THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS IS IN ALL MEN 

Chapter 32

PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS PERFECT LOVE

01-07-07

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(Gen 22:1,2)  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt [test: prove] Abraham [father of a multitude], and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am [Abraham is obedient to God]. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac [laughter], whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah [seen of Jah]; and offer him there for a burnt offering [a sacrifice dedicated wholly unto the Lord] upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

1.       The Living Bible: God gave Abraham a test. The purpose of this test was not to trip Abraham and watch him fall. Rather, God’s real purpose was to deepen Abraham’s capacity to obey God, and thus to develop his character. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested we can complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.

2.       (Heb 11:17-19)  By faith [belief] Abraham, when he was tried [tested: proven], offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting [concluding] that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure [i.e. symbolically].

3.       Commentary: Five occurrences of the phrase “only begotten son” are found in the Bible. They occur one time in Heb 11:17 referring to Isaac, and four times in John 1:18; 3:16,18; 1 John 4:9 referring to Jesus. Isaac was the only son of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham (Abram: Heb: high father) had a previous son, Ishmael, by Hagar (about 14 years older than Isaac); and Abraham later had six sons by Keturah.

4.       (2 Chr 3:1)  Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD [Solomon’s Temple] at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

5.       Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: The Jews believe the altar of burnt offering in the [Herod’s] Temple at Jerusalem was situated on the exact site of the altar on which Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac. The Muslim mosque, “the Dome of the Rock” in Jerusalem, presently is situated on this site.

6.       Commentary: Please note that in the physical realm WE CANNOT SACRIFICE NOW because the brazen altar on the Temple Mount is covered, enclosed, roofed, heavily guarded and defended by the darkness of Islam, “the Dome of the Rock.” Notice that effectively, all pictures of the City of Jerusalem from a distance focus upon “the Dome of the Rock.” Is that significant? What is God telling us?

7.   (1 Sam 15:22,23) And Samuel said [to King Saul], Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken [listen well] than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD [i.e. Jesus Christ: John 1:14], he hath also rejected thee from being king [Rev 1:6; 5:10 - this means you].

Amen

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