“and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,” (Genesis 22:16, NIV).
"God reinforces the surety of His infallible promise by an oath (15:8–21; 22:17; cf. Heb. 6:13–18). While sinful and fallible human beings swear by an authority higher than themselves, God, the supreme Being and Authority, swears by Himself (Heb. 6:13)."[1] Without this insight, one might think that the test of Abraham was conditional upon the promise, but no, God knew the outcome of the test. The results were for Abraham to know and for us. This we can know that when we trust Christ we are accounted righteous. The tests and trials that will come prove to us and others the genuineness of the work that Christ accomplished initially in us. Sanctification gives validity to justification, in other words. But whether the topic is justification or sanctification, can has unilaterally sworn to accomplish both.
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,” (Genesis 22:17, NIV)
"God then assured Abraham that His covenant with him would be fulfilled; and as the sand which is upon the sea shore is like 13:16 and 15:5. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies anticipates the conquest under Joshua, something additional promised (cf., 12:1–3, 15, 17)." [2]
"The spiritual history of Abraham was marked by four great crises, each of which involved the surrender of something which was naturally dear to him. First, he was called on to separate himself from his native land and kindred (Gen. 12:1); Second, he was called on to give up Lot (Gen. 13:1–18); Third, he had to abandon his cherished plan about Ishmael (Gen. 17:17, 18); Fourth, God bade him offer up Isaac as a burnt offering. The life of the believer is a series of tests, for only by discipline can Christian character be developed." [3]
One acronym for FAITH is 'Forsaking All I Trust Him'. All trust in God is, in a sense, a forsaking, a giving up. We cannot say that we have faith in Christ while continuing to trust other things.
Father it is clear that Christian faith has a singular agenda. It is an exclusive trust in You and you alone. Today I wonder if our struggles with faith have less to do with the veracity and infallibility of Your promises; and have more to do with the battle we engage because trusting You means not trusting someone or something else? We are pulled by the unworthy. We are magnetized by the unreliable. Thus we are confronted by the foolishness of sin. How ludicrous we are to be drawn toward that which is destined to fail. How silly! Grant faith to us today and courage to trust You only. For You alone are impeccable, invincible, infallible and indestructible. Amen.
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1. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ge 22:16). Nashville: T. Nelson.
2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (60–61). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. Pink, A. W. (2000). Gleanings in Genesis (electronic ed.) (226). Escondido, CA: The Ephesians Four Group.
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