Chapter 22 & 23: Faith completed by works
God asked Abraham to offer Isaac to Him upon one of the mountains at Moriah. Abraham obeyed willingly. He rose early in the morning packed the fire-wood and walked three days to reach the place God showed him. Isaac helped to carry the wood on the last leg of the journey. When they reached the place Isaac asked, "where is the lamb for the sacrifice? " Abraham said, "God will provide". Abraham made an altar and laid Isaac on it. There was no protest.
Throughout the journey I wonder what went through the mind of Abraham, especially when Isaac innocently asked where was the lamb, and when he was building the altar.
When he raised the knife an angel of the Lord stopped him, "now I know that you fear God more then your love for your only son". God then provided him a lamb, so Abraham called the place - The Lord will provide.
Hebrew 11:17 - By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his son.
James 2:21-23 - Was not Abraham justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Abraham was not fatalistic throughout the entire episode. He knew his God. God is not a God of human sacrifice. Hebrew 11:19 explained, He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
God again renewed His covenant with Abraham. Because you have obeyed my voice, I will indeed bless you and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves.
Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
Sarah died at the age of 127 years. This was a very rare mention for a lady, and the first time. Abraham mourned for her and prepared a tomb for her. He approached the elders of the Hittites for a cave. They were very respectful and friendly. They offered him any place he wished to have, and he chose the cave of Mach-pelah owned by Ephron the son of Zohar.
Abraham insisted on paying for it even though they did not want payment. Finally they agreed on 400 shekels of silver and Abraham paid Ephron in the presence of all the elders of the Hittites (before all who went in at the gate of the city). So Abraham buried Sarah in the cave of the field of Mach-pelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron).
Findings: In these two chapters we learned two important issues pertaining to faith.
- By faith we believed in God and His salvation. This might start of as some called it as "blind faith". But the Christian faith is never blind. God has taken a great deal of effort to reveal Himself to us. Christian must take time to know their God by studying the Bible. In most cases crises would come to test our faith.
- We are not saved just by saying that we believed in God and His salvation. We are saved because we really believed in God. This can only be shown by our actions. Many Christians, myself included, were confused at times by the relationship between faith and works as expounded in James. Could a person be saved just because one confessed "sincerely and publicly" that one believed in God and His salvation. Or must they do more. Abraham's willingness to obey God and was prepared to sacrifice his son taught us that the faith that saves, is a total believe in God. This would revealed itself in crises.
It is also important to note how Abraham related to the non-believers in his community. They respected each other and Abraham did not take their friendship for granted. He was very careful in his business dealings with them. For Christians this is a lesson we must learn. Friendship can be fragile, so it is best be reinforced by leaving no ground for disputes.