A Father's Duty

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A Father's Duty

• Genesis 22

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Who's Abraham?

• A rough past
• A gracious promise
• Belief brings justification
• Yet obedience still a struggle

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Who's Abraham?

• A guy like us!
• A rough past
• A gracious promise
• Belief brings justification
• Yet obedience still a struggle

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The Test - Gen 22

• Background
• Promised descendents in Gen 12
• Waiting 25 yrs for a son
• Then miraculous birth of Isaac (ch21)
• Through Isaac promises will be fulfilled

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The Test - Gen 22

• 4 Characteristics (221-2)
• Sudden (Gen 2122-23,33)
• Unexpected
• Illogical
• Aimed at Abe's most vulnerable spot

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The Test - Gen 22

• Abe's Options
• Disobey/Stall
• Obey God

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The Test - Gen 22

• Abe's Choice OBEY
• Immediately (223a)
• Unhesitatingly (224)
• Fully (2210)

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The Test - Gen 22

• HOW?! Hebrews 1117-19
• "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up
  Isaac, and he who had received the promises was
  offering up his only begotten son it was he to
  whom it was said, 'In Isaac your descendants
  shall be called.' He considered that God is able
  to raise people even from the dead..."

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The Test - Gen 22

• God's Response - 2210-13
• Spares Isaac
• Provides a substitute sacrifice
• God proves faithful!

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What motivates such radical obedience?

• FAITH
• in God's character promises

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FAITH in God's CHARACTER

• Immutable
• Sovereign
• All Powerful
• Righteous
• Good

• Faithful
• Omniscient
• Loving
• Compassionate

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FAITH in God's CHARACTER

• Compassionate - John 1133-35
• When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the
  Jews who came with her also weeping, He was
  deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and
  said, Where have you laid him? They said to
  Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.

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FAITH in God's PROMISES

• 1 Corinthians 1013
• "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is
  common to man and God is faithful, who will not
  allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
  but with the temptation will provide the way of
  escape also, so that you will be able to endure
  it."

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FAITH in God's PROMISES

• Romans 828
• "And we know that God causes all things to work
  together for good to those who love God, to those
  who are called according to His purpose."

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FAITH in God's PROMISES

• James 12-4
• "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
  encounter various trials, knowing that the
  testing of your faith produces endurance. And let
  endurance have its perfect result, so that you
  may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
  

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FAITH in God's PROMISES

• Mathew 631-33
• Do not worry then, saying, What will we eat?
  or What will we drink? or What will we wear
  for clothing? for your heavenly Father knows
  that you need all these things. But seek first
  His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
  things will be added to you."

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FAITH in God's PROMISES

• Revelation 226-27
• "He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds
  until the end, to him I will give authority over
  the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of
  iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to
  pieces, as I also have received authority from My
  Father."

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What motivates such radical obedience?

• FAITH
• in God's character promises