Watch
Listen
Thrive: Thrive: Abraham’s Test
(Abraham’s Treaty with Abimelech + Abraham’s Test Genesis 21:22-23:19)
God uses TREATIES and TESTS so that we can THRIVE.
Location
Beersheba: well of seven OR well of the oath. The place Abraham and Abimelech settled their differences over a well. This well is where the man of faith made peace and became the southern border of Israel and today is Be’er Sheva. It is Israel’s 8th most populous city and the center of it’s tech industry. It’s also referred to as the capitol of the Negev region.
Scripture
Genesis 21:22-34
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.21.22-34
“At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” And Abraham said, “I will swear.” When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.”
Genesis 21:22-34 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/gen.21.22-34.esv
- King Abimelech noticed the weening festival of Isaac and fear fell on him.
- God will make even your enemies to be at peace with you, but this peace does not supplant the promise.
- Abraham made peace, he thought. But then…
- Abraham paid Abimelech 7 ewe lambs for the well…even after he thought the land had been offered to him. He did this not because God hadn’t promised to give him this land, but that Abimelech and others may know God’s promise.
- The two men representing two kingdoms made a covenant of peace. Abimelech should have come under the faith and leadership of Abraham, not just coexist or tolerate God’s promise.
- Beersheba means ‘well of seven’ or “well of the oath”.
- Two of them came into agreement so the place got a new name they both knew and could relate to.
- A well and a tree. A living reminder of God’s promise. An everlasting God can always keep His promises.
Genesis 22:1-19
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.22.1-19
'After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord , because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba. '
- The time of this test was a time of peace and prosperity. (A covenant was just made with Abimelech and Isaac was weened and growing.)
- Isaac is Abraham's special and unique son in whom God’s promise is to be fulfilled.
- Mt. Moriah is where David stopped the plague with a sacrifice and where Solomon built the temple for worship.
- The journey was a 3 day journey akin to the time Jesus was dead in the tomb. To Abraham, because of his commitment to obey God, his son had already been dead for 3 days.
- Even in mourning Abraham speaks in faith that God can bring them both back. Worship can raise the dead!
- Yet, Abraham was fully prepared to make a sacrifice by bringing the knife and fire.
- Isaac was strong enough to carry the wood, yet a struggle from being bound is not mentioned.
The account repeats God calling “Abraham!” and Abraham responding immediately “Here I am!” The second time God calls Abraham's name twice ,”Abraham! Abraham!”.
*God will stop you if you are genuinely trying to follow him.
Abraham obeyed they very next morning
*Delayed obedience is disobedience.
Abraham says “Here I am!” At the call to go and “Here I am!” At the command to stop.
*Do you hear God’s voice so clearly and quickly that God could use you to save a life? To share the gospel with the person beside you?
NOW God knew he could trust Abraham even though Abraham loved his son, the fulfillment of the promise.
Q: Does God still test people today? Yes he does, because he wants you to thrive eternally.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/jas.1.2-4.esv
God tests us but does not tempt us.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:12-17 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/jas.1.12-17.esv
Q: What has God promised you that he may be withholding because He can’t trust you with it yet?
We are not owners, just stewards of God’s resources. The bigger the test of stewardship, the bigger the blessing for us and the whole world.
Supporting Scripture
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
Your faith isn’t just about you. Your faith is to be passed on so that the next generation might grow and continue in their faith as well. Not just faith in Jesus, but faith to live by faith.
Don’t eat the seed of faith. Plant the seed so that you, your generation, and future generations can thrive on God’s provision.
““And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.””
Mark 14:32-42 ESV
https://www.bible.com/59/mrk.14.32-42.esv
The greatest test in “The Crushing Place”
- Jesus was in anguish the disciples were sleeping
- Jesus brought his three closest friends
- Supernatural strength for the test
- Only the son of God could have passed this test
Jesus Christ the descendant of Abraham of the flesh and son of God passed this test so that the world may be reconciled to God and thrive eternally.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher 2021