“ What’s your

breaking point? ”Hebrews 11:17-19

Your breaking point…?•Doctors made me take a stress test once– an ECG•I didn’t like it, chemical ones are worse!•Doctors obviously won’t push you, in one of those tests, to kill you, even though it may seem so• According to Dictionary.com, ‘breaking point’ means “the point at which a person, object, structure, etc., collapses under stress.”

Your breaking point…?•God knows our “breaking points”, and He wants us to know them too!•Not because He’s sadistic or mean, but because we need to know our own faith weaknesses– if we do, we can strengthen them•A dividend from this ‘Faith Stress Test’ is that it causes us to align our spiritual priorities rightly•Today we’re going to look at Abraham more deeply– God gave him the “ultimate” stress test– we’ll look at it “up close” and at a “distance”

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. ”

Hebrews 11:17-19, NASB

A. Zoom: up-close look•Genesis 22:1-2,

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

Genesis22:1-2, NASB

A. Zoom: up-close look•Genesis 22:1-2, Atheists try to use this scripture passage all the time out of context to say we are nuts•Without a faith context this story does seem crazy•God wanted Isaac dead? No.•Interesting note: this is the first time ‘love’ is mentioned in the bible •1st time in the NT? Jesus’ baptism. Book of John?•Lets read the account, Genesis 22:3-10

“3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.” 6 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 the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid

him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”

Genesis 22:3-10, NASB

4 lessons from Abe’s response1. Abraham obeyed the Lord IMMEDIATELY•Unlike when he left Ur…•No begging, whining, or crying, just obedience•He got up early, saddled the donkey, and went– God blesses us when we obey on His time!

2. Abraham’s obedience is characterized by his confidence in GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

•Notice verse 5…?

5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

Genesis 22:5, NASB

5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

Genesis 22:5, NASB

4 lessons from Abe’s response•Notice verse 5…?•This was not a fear driven, not-so-sure-about-what-God’s-gonna-do moment– it was a time for worship

3. Abraham’s reply was based on GOD’S CHARACTER

•Look at verse 6…

“6 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 the two of them walked on together.”

Genesis 22:6, NASB

4 lessons from Abe’s response•Look at verse 6…•Isaac was no small boy– the amount of wood needed for a sacrifice was much more than a mere boy could’ve carried to and up the mountain•V8 shows Abe knew the Lord well enough to trust His character– always keeping His promises•We tend to forget two things--

‘For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”’

Hebrews 13:5b, NIV

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19, NIV

4 lessons from Abe’s response4. Abraham’s faith was THOROUGH, NOT

HALFHEARTED•In his heart the outcome, whether or not he actually had to kill Isaac, was finished•He didn’t take a back-up sheep with him, he thoroughly trusted God•Warren Wiersbe said, “A crisis doesn’t make a person; a crisis reveals what a person is made of.”

B. Wide angle: master shot•Hebrews 11:17-19,

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. ”

Hebrews 11:17-19, NASB

B. Wide angle: master shot•Hebrews 11:17-19, imagine the fear, shock, etc., Abraham must’ve felt•How did he come through this test so remarkably?•He knew that God couldn’t, wouldn’t lie or back down from His promise to Abraham about the future generations through Isaac•Abe’s faith secret is revealed in V19

19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. ”

Hebrews 11:19, NASB

19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. ”

Hebrews 11:19, NASB

B. Wide angle: master shot•The Greek word is ‘logizomai’•It means to count, compute, calculate•Contextually, it means Abraham had considered all the possible outcomes of God’s command of this terrible test•His conclusion was that even if he killed Isaac, God would resurrect him…

C. Mount Moriah•An interesting choice for God to use•Abraham’s encounter with the Ram instead of having to kill Isaac•God sent David here to do a repentance sacrifice after he’d sinned by counting•Its where Solomon built the Temple and Jerusalem still stands today and… •Golgotha

D. Take Home; 3 Lessons…1. God’s Will always demands our

immediate obedience2. You can’t second-guess His Will3. His Breaking Point Test on us reveals our true

belief system•Remember– a crisis doesn’t make a person, I reveals who they really are!