Below is a summary my observations while reading through Genesis 22. A few things really stood out to me. This chapter shows an extremely challenging event in Abraham’s life, a shocking instruction from God, and a response to Abraham’s obedience that has great implications on believers today.
According to James 2, this chapter in Abraham’s life serves as an example of how Christians should view their works as they relate to their faith.
Chapter Summery
- Abraham and Sarah had Isaac and sent away Hagar and Ishmael.
- Abraham plants a grove at Beer-sheba and stays there for some time.
- God “tempts” Abraham, and tells him to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice.
- Without a question, Abraham heads off to follow God’s command.
- Isaac asks Abraham where the lamb is for the offering, Abraham says God will provide a lamb.
- As Abraham gets ready to slay his son, God stops him and says “Now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your only son.”
- Abraham finds a ram in the bushes nearby and offers it instead of his son.
- God speaks to Abraham again says that because he obeyed and didn’t withhold his son that he will bless him and make his seed to multiply and that all the nations will be blessed in his seed because he obeyed God’s voice.
- Then Abraham returns home to learn that his brother’s family has grown.
Things that Stand out to me:
- God “tempts” Abraham (v. 1)
- This is odd to me, considering the statement in the new testament saying that God “tempts no man.” (James 1:13)
- One possible explanation, which would avoid a contradiction, could be found in the context: Here, in Genesis 22, God is simply testing Abraham to see how much faith he really has, whereas James is talking specifically about being drawn into sin.
- It would seem from this passage that, while God will never entice us or cause us to sin, God sometimes dares us to “put our money where our mouth is” and really show our faith; not merely proclaiming it, but proving it and fulfilling it.
- Abraham shows that he believes God from beginning to end.
- Abraham was amazed when Isaac was born to him and Sarah. Seeing God fulfill his promise, Abraham’s faith must have grown.
- God’s instruction to offer his son on the alter is unimaginable to most parents, but Abraham, trusting God, doesn’t put up a fight.
- He immediately obeys God, and when questioned about the sacrifice, he shows that he believes God will make a way.
- Hebrews 11:19 says that Abraham believed that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, since he knew Gods promises about him, and thus he was willing to follow God’s command.
- God uses Abraham to show how our works appear to those around us.
- HE stops Abraham from slaying his son and says “Now I know that you fear God, seeing that you didn’t withhold your son from me.” (v.12)
- God saw that Abraham was willing to follow through on what he claimed to believe, thus proving to the observer (which was God in this case) that he really did believe and trust in God.
- In this same way, our actions (our good works) show those around us today that we have faith, and not only that we claim with our mouths to have faith, but that we are willing to take meaningful and impactful action because of it.
- This can play a HUGE role in spreading the Gospel.
- If people see that we say one thing yet do another, they will rightfully call us hypocrites.
- If people see that we say one thing and do that same thing, then they would know that we really do believe what we claim to.
Application: More than just proclaiming our faith, we should live it out for all to see.
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before men, that they see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
At the time of writing this, I am also studying the book of James, particularly James chapter 2.
In James 2, the author makes it clear that this is the fulfilment of Genesis 15:6 (James 2:21-23), where the Bible says that “Abraham believed God and He counted it to him for righteousness.”
Specifically, James uses three words to describe how these two sets of scripture relate: justified, perfect, and fulfilled.
The word justified has many meanings which boil down to mainly one point: that the subject conforms to a standard. James 2:21 implies that Abraham was justified by his works here. Given the meaning of the word, something about Abraham’s actions in Genesis 22 conformed him to a standard of some sort.
James 2:22 says “See how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Perfect means complete or “lacking in no essential detail.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) As a verb, to perfect something means “to bring to completion.” This verse isn’t simply saying that faith is completed by works, but rather it’s asking the reader if they can see how faith is completed by works.
If the reader can’t see how, all they need to do is read the next verse, which says that the “scripture was fulfilled which says that Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God.” To be fulfilled means to put into effect, execute. If we look at Abraham’s obedience in Genesis 22, and we say that his actions “fulfilled” his faith, then we are saying that his actions “put into effect” his faith, or that he was acting on his faith.
The observation that James makes in chapter 2 verses 21-23 is the same observation that God makes by example in Genesis 22:12. James is seeing that Abraham chooses to let his actions exhibit his faith. Abrahams actions “fulfilled” his faith (James 2:23); they put his claims of trusting God into effect. If he had not acted in accordance with his faith here, then it would be obvious to those watching (in this case: God and anyone reading this passage, including James) that the standard which he set when he believed God would not have been met. His work here shows those observers that he does indeed meet the standard, he is justified.
This is not talking about being righteous in God’s sight, but rather that those watching our lives would see our works, that they align with what we claim to believe, and know that we fear God.
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