Faith Sacrifice Lessons from the Father of Faith

Who is Abram - Gen 11

Abram is the first son of Terah, a descendant of Shem
Lived in his father's household in Ur, and later Haran after the death of his brother Haran
The husband to Sarai, and uncle to Lot (his brother Haran's son)

Left his native country, relatives, father's family, and to a land God showed him.
He traveled with his wife, and Lot to Canaan - a people that were cursed, as a result of Ham's insubordination
The Lord said he'll give the land of Canaan to Abram's descendants
Abram travelled through the land, built an altar in Moreh, built an altar in between Bethel (west) and AI (east), and then south to Negev
Famine strikes in Canaan forcing him to move to Egypt
Abram lies to the Egyptian ruler that Sarai is his sister to protect his life
Plague hits the Pharaoh's household, and he throws Abram out of the country back to Canaan, and settled in between Bethel and Ai
Conflict ensues between the herdsmen or Abram and his nephew Lot due to competition for resources as their livestock and other possessions increased
Lot moved near Sodom, in the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley
The Lord said to Abram: Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you Gen 13:17
The 5 kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboyim, and Bela marched against the 4 kings of Elam, Goyim, Shinar, and Ellasar and were defeated
Lot was taken captive as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated
Abram mobilized 318 trained men from his household and rescued Lot Gen 14
Abram meets king of Sodom and High Priest Melchizedek, also king of Salem
He gave a tenth of everything after to Melchizedek after he blessed him.

The Lord makes a covenant promise to Abram, to give an heir to Abram's wealth
Abram believed and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith v1-6
Abraham had a vision of the 400 years of slavery his descendants will endure v7-20

10 years later after the covenant, Sarai offers her Egyptian servant to Abram to bear a child with her
Sarai mistreats Hagar during her pregnancy causing her to flee
An angel appears to Hagar by the spring of water in the wilderness as she was running away, to name her son Ishmael (God hears)
Hagar names the place Beer-lahai-roi (well of the Living One who sees me), or El-Roi (The God who sees me)

El-Shaddai gives the father of many nations a new name, Abraham
God establishes His covenant with Abraham as everlasting
He commands Abraham and all the males of his household to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant v9
Abraham was circumcised at 99 years old
Sarai named Sarah, mother of many nations
Laughed in disbelief of hearing she'd have a child, but God still confirmed his covenant
God visits Abraham through 3 men, and confirms the promise of a child - C18
Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah for Lot's sake
Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed, Lot makes it out with his family - C19
Isaac is born, the meaning of his name is Laughter - C21
Ishmael and Hagar sent away

Give me the one thing you love most as a burnt offering, a worship sacrifice to God
Abraham did not withhold his son Isaac from God
He loaded up his donkey, cut up wood and took 2 servants and Isaac, to set out to Moriah
Upon reaching the mountain God showed him, he went to the top with Isaac alone
Abraham answered "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering" when Isaac as the about the lamb for the burnt offering - v7-8
An angel of the Lord called out from heaven to stopped Abraham from making the laying hand on Isaac and provided a ram to use for the sacrifice instead - v10-13
He called the place, the Lord will Provide (YHWH Jireh)
The Lord reaffirmed His covenant to Abraham by swearing by His Own Name (I AM) because of his obedience

When the LORD called Abraham, he replied Here I am, Lord
When the Lord called Adam, he hid because he had disobeyed
To God obedience comes first, and in Abraham's case, the test was not about the sacrifice, but the obedience
The sacrifice is important but the obedience takes precedence as in 1 Samuel 15:22
It is not just about the sacrifice; the size, the kind, the taste, the age, the gender
It is the obedience to do those things God
Obedience counts as righteousness, and a sacrifice from a righteous man is clean and accepted by God

How much will you sacrifice for God?
What do you love more or the most?
What's more important?
What would have happened if Abraham failed?
What does this story tell us about sacrifice?
What is God asking you to sacrifice because of your faith in Him?

Created By

Kojo Stan

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by hpbfotos - "The Court of the Patriarchs, Abraham Peak, Isaac Peak and Jacob Peak, in Zion National Park in Utah, United Sates" • rdonar - "Man tourist sit on exposed rock. View point with heather and branches" • chaunpis - "Silhouette of woman praying over beautiful sky background"