Letter to the Hebrews Volume 132

 God Test Abraham's Faith Part 1

Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, KJV

It is not in the Nature of God to lead His sons and daughters into that which is evil, however, God will test His sons and daughters with various things that don't make sense, so that we can access the trial, tempt, or test with what we know and understand of His Character and His Word and then respond accordingly by faith. The Patriarch Abraham had been walking and talking with the Lord God for over 30 + years when he was tested by Him with something that God had never required of Abraham and that being instead of a goat, a ram, or a lamb to offer up to Him as a sacrifice, the Lord God told/commanded Abraham to take his son Isaac (the only one he had with his wife Sara at both of their very old ages, his miracle son) and offer him up as a sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham, of course, being human just like anyone else may have been carked (disturbed), confounded, and confused by this command from God to him, yet, it was the voice of the Lord God so as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews he complied, "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," (Hebrews 11:17) (KJV). The English word 'faith' is translated by the Greek word pistis which means (as used here) assurance. The English phrase 'when he was tried' is translated by the Greek word peirazō meaning (as used here) to test; examine; prove. God the Father knows everything, He is Omniscient, yet He tried Abraham with this act of being willing to kill his own son in obedience to Him. God knew that Abraham would be willing, but He wanted Abraham to know truly where his faith and love for Him stood. The account of this encounter between God and Abraham is recorded in Genesis Chapter 22. Here are the first three (3) verses that shows that there appeared (outwardly) to be no balking by Abraham, "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him." (Genesis 22:1-3) (KJV). In the mind of Abraham, he had already 'offered up' his son to God even as they were still making their way to the land of Moriah, this English phrase 'offered up' is translated by the Greek word prospherō meaning to bear towards, that is, lead to, tender or present to (especially to God). It was never God's will that Abraham commit the sin of murdering his own son, however, it was God's plan to prove the faith of Abraham, for it is always the devil who tempts us to sin sensing, stoking, stirring our own lust which leads to spiritual death, as it is written by the Apostle James with these words, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:13-15) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 11:17, "Or tempted; that is, by God, Genesis 22:1. This temptation or trial respects the command given by God to Abraham, to offer up his son Isaac; which lays no foundation for a charge against God, either of sin or cruelty; for God's will is the rule of justice and goodness, and whatever He requires is just and good; and though His creatures are bound by the laws He prescribes them, He Himself is not: besides, He is the Lord of life, the giver and preserver of it; and He has a right to dispose of it, and to take it away, when, and by what means, and instruments, He thinks fit; to which may be added, that the secret will of God was not that Isaac should die, but a command was given to Abraham to offer him up, for the trial of his faith and love; this was a temptation of probation, not of seduction, or to sin, as are the temptations of Satan; for God tempts no man with sin. The Jews speak of ten temptations, with which Abraham was tried, and in all which he stood; and say, that this of the binding of Isaac was the tenth and last. Offered up Isaac; he showed great readiness to do it; as soon as he had the command given him, he travelled three days' journey in order to it; took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on his son; took fire, and a knife in his hand, with the one to burn the wood, with the other to slay his son; he built an altar, laid the wood in order on it; and bound his son, and laid him on that; and took the knife, and stretched forth his hand to slay him, and fully intended to do it, had he not been prevented: and all this he did by faith; he believed the equity, justice, and wisdom of the Divine Command; he was fully assured of the truth and faithfulness of God in his promises, however contrary this might seem thereunto; and he was strongly persuaded of the power of accomplishing them in some way or another. This was great faith, and it was greatly tried, as follows. He had a promise made him that he should have a son, and that a numerous people should spring from him, which should inherit the land of Canaan; yea, that the Messiah Himself should be of his seed: and he had received these promises; given credit to them, and firmly believed them, and fully expected the performance of them; as he had reason to do, since the first was fulfilled, the son was born; and yet now he is called to offer him up, on whom his expectation was placed; everything was trying; it was an human creature he was called to offer, whose blood is not to be shed by man; a child of his own, a part of himself; a son, an own son; an only begotten son; a son whom he loved; and Isaac, a son of joy; a son of promise; and his heir, the son of his old age, and who was now a grown up person. The Jews are divided about the age of Isaac at his binding: Josephus says he was twenty five years of age; others say twenty six; some say thirty six: but the more prevailing opinion is, that he was thirty seven years of age; only Aben and Ezra makes him to be about thirteen; rejecting the more commonly received account, as well as that he was but five years old, that being an age unfit to carry wood. Some Christian writers have thought he might be about three and thirty years of age, the age of Christ when he suffered, of whom he was a type."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…