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  GENESIS 22:2
  by Chuck Smith
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Summary: God's promise to Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac demonstrate
the importance of faith, trust, and obedience in our relationship with
God.

Topics: "Faith", "Divine Promises"
Scripture References: Genesis 17:19, Genesis 21:1-2, Genesis 22:2, Psalm 37:4, Isaiah 55:11, John 3:16, Romans 4:20-21, Galatians 4:22-23, Hebrews 6:12, James 1:12

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DESCRIPTION
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Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of Isaac as Abraham's most
cherished possession, highlighting the long wait for God's promise of a
son and the joy that followed Isaac's miraculous birth. He reflects on
how God recognized Isaac as Abraham's only son, disregarding the works
of the flesh represented by Ishmael, and draws a parallel to God's love
for humanity in giving His only begotten Son. The sermon illustrates the
themes of faith, patience, and divine fulfillment in God's promises.

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CONTENT
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I. Isaac was the most prized possession of His Father. "Thy Son, thine

only Son Isaac, whom thou lovest."

A. God had promised to Abraham that He would give to him a son,

and that through his seed all of the nations of the earth would

be blessed.

1. Abraham waited many years for that promise to be

fulfilled.

a. It is probably with Abraham in mind that the

writer of Hebrews declared concerning the Old

Testament saints, "Who through faith and

patience inherited the promises of God."

b. Sarah finally decided they perhaps needed to

help God out, and suggested that Abraham take

her handmaiden Hagar that she might become a

surrogate mother.

c. Abraham seemed to be satisfied with the son

that was born from that relationship and

accepted him as the fulfillment of the promise

of God.

d. So when Abraham was about 100 years old, God

reconfirmed the promise to give him a son,

Abraham responded, let Ishmael live before you.

God declared that Ishmael would indeed live,

but that through Sarah his seed would be

called.

2. It is interesting that God now called Abraham to take

his son, his only son Isaac.

a. God did not recognize or acknowledge the works

of his flesh, just as he does not recognize or

acknowledge the works of our flesh.

b. Notice the words "Thy son, thy only son Isaac,

whom thou lovest." It reminds us of a scripture

in the New Testament that declares, "For God so

loved the world that He gave His only begotten

Son."

B. After the many years of waiting for the promise of God to be

fulfilled you can imagine the joy and blessing that they

experienced when Sarah by divine miracle gave birth to the Son.

1. For her to give birth to a Son after that many years of

infertility, and having gone through the change of

life, was almost as great a miracle as the virgin

birth.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/genesis-222/
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