Dr. Joseph P. Metoyer, Jr., Pastor/Teacher

June 15, 2003

Father’s Day

Text: Genesis 22:1-14

Subject: "A Father’s Influence"

Introduction: Men it is our choice to be active or passive fathers. The decision we make will determine the amount of influence we will have on our children. The story is told of an eagle flying over a river in the wintertime and noticing a large chunk of ice floating down the river. The eagle landed on the ice to relax for a minute, even though there was a steep waterfall ahead. He knew he had plenty of time to fly away before the ice chunk plunged over the fall.

That’s a pretty accurate picture of American fatherhood today. Most dads are content to ride the ice chunk as long as things seem to be going along all right.

When God said in (v.2)"take your son, your only son" (or favorite son) He relieved the Hebrew imperative and gave Abraham the freedom to chose to follow the instructions or not without any guilt.

A. Look at the enormity of the request in (v.2):

1. Take your son

2. Your favorite one, Literally, your only one. Here construed as a term of value.

3. Whom you love. The love only a parent can have for a child.

B. Notice how Abraham is silent this morning as the old man rose for his journey (v.3). He took two servants, a sign that he was a man of importance. He split the wood. He did not know if this place would have wood or not.

II. A Father Prepares The Sacrifice (Genesis 22:9)

First (v.3) He split the wood. Secondly (v.9) Abraham built an altar. Thirdly (v.9) He placed the wood in order (v.9) and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

A. A Father’s Faith is acknowledged by God: Genesis 22:11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." Calling Abraham’s name twice connotes both urgency and a special relationship between the one addressed and the One who calls. God says, Genesis 22:12b now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. God is not saying that He did not know what Abraham would do; but He is saying that because Abraham chose to demonstrate on the outside what was on the inside God is acknowledging that that potential quality character which was on the inside was now actualized.

Look fathers, God is saying that while there are difficult decisions we must make concerning our faith, you have the potential quality of character on the inside of you to make the hard decision even if it means death of your child, or separation from your child; when you actualize that potential God will see you through. God is not asking us to do something we cannot do but rather He is asking us to prepare to take an action that He will complete based upon our active faith in Him.

B. The results of releasing that potential quality of character in us is A Father’s Blessing: (v.12) God says "Do not lay your hands on the lad, or do anything to him." That’s a blessing"! But Abraham knew that God deserved and offering; Genesis 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

C. The blessing becomes "A Father’s Legacy". Genesis 22:15-18 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son-- 17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Application: Look at Abraham! He was an old man but he got up early to prepare to worship the Lord. Fathers we have to get up early and Worship God. Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. Jacob got up early in the morning (Gen. 28:18); Moses rose early in the morning; Joshua rose early in the morning (Josh. 3:1); Samuel rose early (1 Sam. 15:12); The day David killed Goliath the Bible says he rose early in the morning. 2 Chron. 29:20 Then King Hezekiah rose early, gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

It was early in the morning that the Chief Priest had a consultation and took Jesus before Pilate. His Father gave Him up to die and they put Him to death. But early on that third day morning He got up!

Psalm 90:14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Whenever you obey God there is a time of rejoicing that follows: Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The Lord it shall be provided." In this case God provided a substitute (the ram in the bush). In my case God provided a substitute for my sin debt: Jesus paid it all! John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

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