Genesis 22 - Abraham's Test

Genesis 22:1-14
God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham followed God’s instructions, but God stopped him from killing Isaac at the last minute.
What was God testing in Abraham? His sincerity, loyalty, dedication, faith.
As a teacher, I test my students to find out how much they know. Why did God test Abraham?

James 2:21-23 As a result of Abraham’s works (this response to the test) His faith was perfected.
It is Abraham’s actions that complete his faith in James 2:22. The Greek here is teleioo, meaning accomplish or finish, but also implying make perfect. James is calling us to be made perfect by our actions, by doing works that complete our faith.
God tested Abraham by asking him to surrender the thing in his life that he “loved” (first use of that word).
Does God “test” us? How? Why?

Typology (or typological symbolism) is a Christian form of biblical interpretation that proceeds on the assumption that God has placed anticipations of Christ in the laws, events, and people of the Old Testament. There is a danger of infringing one's presumptions upon the biblical text to the point where typology becomes allegory.
Types: Isaac is a type of Christ – obedient to the point of death.
Abraham is a type of the Father – he did not spare his own son.
The Ram – A type of substitution – Christ was offered as a burnt offering in our stead (Heb 10:5-10)


Only begotten Son Genesis 22:2 John 3:16
Offered on a mountain, hill Genesis 22:2 Matt. 21:10
Took donkey to place of sacrifice Genesis 22:3 Matt. 21:2-11
Two men went with him. Genesis 22:3 Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33
Three day journey. Jesus: three days in the grave Genesis 22:4 Luke 24:13-21
Son carried wood on his back up hill Genesis 22:6 John 19:17
God will provide for Himself the lamb Genesis 22:8 John 1:29
Son was offered on the wood Genesis 22:9 Luke 23:33
Ram in thicket of thorns Genesis 22:13 John 19:2
Servant gets bride for son Genesis 24:1-4 Rev. 21:2, 9; 22:17
The bride was a beautiful virgin Genesis 24:16 2 Cor. 11:2
Table from Matt Slick, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, Dictionary of Theology, typology: http://www.carm.org/dictionary/dic_t.htm#_1_192

Genesis 21 - Isaac and Hagar

Genesis 21:1-8 Isaac is born.

V1- God did as He had promised. Abraham was 100 years old.
V4 Abraham obeyed God in circumcising Isaac. (17:12)
V8 A celebration ensued.

V9-21 Hagar and Ishmael

The Hebrew word translated "mocking" (v. 9) comes from the same root as Isaac's name and means "laughing." However this participle is in the intensive form in Hebrew indicating that Ishmael was not simply laughing but ridiculing Isaac.

Ishmael (age 14) disdained Isaac as Hagar had despised Sarai (See 16:4).

Did God condone (or even command) divorce in V12?
Who was Hagar addressing in v16?
What was the crying in V17? Was it just boo hoo, or was it a call to the Lord?
Why do you think that God made the promise of a great nation for Ishmael in V18?

What do you think about God choosing to bless Ishmael? What does this show about God?

Genesis 20 Abraham's deception

Background and Setting –
1. Abraham had been promised that he would be the father of many nations, and that Kings would come forth from you (17:6). Sarah will be the mother of nations and Kings of peoples will come from her (17:16).
2. God appeared to Abraham in Chapter 17-18 and provide some more information
a. The promise would not be fulfilled by Ishmael 17:19
b. Sarah would deliver a child in 1 year
c. God invited Abraham to intercede for Lot
d. Abraham experienced answered prayer

Genesis 20:1-8 The Lie
Abraham claimed Sarah was his sister and Abimelech took her into his harem.
God appeared to Abimelech in a dream and convinced him to send her back.

What was Abraham THINKING?
How could this have endangered God’s promise?
Do you think this was the aftermath of a “mountaintop experience”?
How important is it for us to consistently show good judgement?

Small Recap from Chapter 12-God made the initial promise to Abraham, then told Abraham to “go forth”. Abraham went to Canaan, then a famine hit so he went to Egypt, where he pulled the same stunt. He convinced Sarai to claim she was his sister, then the Pharoh took her into his house, but God struck the Pharoh with plagues, then he left. This event was almost immediately following the promise.

Genesis 20:9-18 The Result
What do these verses tell us about God’s Actions?
God used Abimalech to enrich Abraham further.
God protected Sarah
God blessed Abimalech because of Abraham
God answered Abraham’s prayer to heal Abimilech’s wives and make them bear children.