Genesis 22 God’s Examination
Genesis Dear family and friends, There are times when God places issues in our life knowing how we will respond. Each of us faces challenges in our pathway from time to time. We must face difficulties in real-time. WHY? God is examining us. Genesis Chapter 22.1 says, ‘God examined Abraham.’ Satan is NOT involved! Abraham had to go through the test. Like Abraham, each of us must experience the trials in life. We must feel the pressure, stress, and anxiety. Do we have confidence in The Lord God? Do we trust the Words of The Holy Scriptures?
And it happened after these events that God Tested Abraham, and He Said to him. ‘Abraham!’
and Abraham responded, ‘Here I am.’
and He Said to him, ‘Take your son. ‘
and Abraham said I have two sons,
and God Said, ‘your only son,’
and Abraham said Yishmael is an only son to Hagar
and Isaac is an only son to Sarah
and God Said, the one whom you love
and Abraham said, I love Yishmael, and I love Yitzchok.
And God Said take – Yitzchok – and go to the land of Moriah sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will designate to you.
Some of our ancestors struggled with trusting Moses. Some doubted the promises of a land flowing with milk and honey.’ It is not unusual for us to feel weak, surprised, vulnerable when our test feels overwhelming.
The Torah Teaches us just how human we are. When the pressure is on, and the heat is turned up, we may doubt God or the Torah of the Lord. We may feel like God does not keep His Word. We might STOP believing The Holy Scriptures. Perhaps we seem abandoned, isolated, lost in the universe. What do we do when everything in our world seems upside down and backward? How do we keep our souls from being lost at sea? What happens when just about everything we believe seems to evaporate? It is reasonable to be frightened, worried, and insecure when threats are pounding on our doors and lurking in our backyard.
Abraham lived safely, securely, and confident in God’s Promises. Abraham placed his hope in the Promises of The Lord God, even though there were times of adversity and trouble. Through it all, The Lord God never failed Abraham or Sarah and those they loved!! How did Abraham live so confidently? What did Abraham know that could benefit us right now?
Abraham was logical from his youth. Those who have learned with me have had the opportunity to observe Abraham’s deductions and reasoning.
Abraham was a Prophet that benefited from dreams, visions, and other perceptions. Studying Gematria provides us with mystical revelation. Learning Hebrew Signs unveils revelations from The Torah.
Abraham studied the ways of The Lord. He walked in the way of the Lord. We term that Derek HaShem. Abraham understood the Paths of God, i.e., The Lord God’s Will. For example, God’s Will is for us to be honest, not to steal, not to lie, to show proper respect for The Lord God, and much more. In other words, many of us already know what God’s Will is for ourselves. We do not need to ask what God’s will is. That brings us to our discussion. Abraham knew that it was not God’s Will for him to sacrifice Isaac. The Lord God does not permit human sacrifice!! Abraham understood that. Abraham knew that he and Isaac were being proven. Since Abraham knew God’s Ways, it was clear to him that God would not require him to take his son’s life. Human sacrifice is forbidden regardless of the reason or situation!
Abraham knew God’s Will, so he arose early in the morning. He saddled his ass. He chopped the wood for the burnt offering; He took his son and two young attendants. They headed towards the land of Moriah. On the third day, Abraham raised his eyes and ‘Saw The Place’ from a distance. He said to his attendants, ‘the lad, and I will go [up] yonder and worship, and come back to you.’
Genesis 22.6
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac, his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and the both of them went on together. And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said My father; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for a burnt offering; so they went on together. And they came to the place which God had told him; and Abraham built an altar there, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac, his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel/messenger of The Lord called to him from heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham; and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, nor do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God, seeing that you did not withhold your son, your only son from me. And Abraham lifted his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in place of his son.
May each of us enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and Blessing, as we study confidence and trust in The Lord and The Holy Scriptures.
Good Sabbath!
Blessings,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
