And He said, “By Myself I have sworn, an utterance from the LORD, that on account of which you have done this matter and did not withhold your son, your only, that I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your seed like stars of the heavens and like sand which is upon the seashore, and he will possess the gates of his enemies.” Genesis 22:16–17.
God proves Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice the son of promise (Genesis 22:1–2). The Scripture records that Abraham followed God’s instructions without hesitation or question. He saddled his donkey, took wood and his son, and went to the place God told him to go (Genesis 22:3). Genesis does not reveal Abraham’s mindset; however, the book of Hebrews does.
God does not solicit anyone to do wrong (James 1:13). In Genesis 22:1, He tested Abraham to prove his faith to us. When addressing those who say they have faith but do not act on the belief they confess, James refers to Abraham’s actions. Abraham was not justified before God by works. His works displayed before men that he believed God (James 2:21–23). It is a true statement that faith produces works. Thus, faith without works is dead (James 2:24). However, this cannot be reversed. Works do not produce faith. Even Abraham was reckoned to be righteous before God through faith, not works (Galatians 3:6–9).
Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice the son of promise stemmed from his conviction that his descendants would come through Isaac, as God had declared (Genesis 17:18–19). Why would he then sacrifice his son? Since Abraham knew the promise was through Isaac, the only logical result of his sacrifice was that God would raise him from the ashes (Hebrews 11:17–19).
Faith is taking God at His Word (Hebrews 11:1). It is the substance for that which is hoped for, and the evidence of accomplished deeds not seen. Today, our faith is tested by temptations (James 1:2–3). These temptations that come from either our sin nature, Satan, or the world, prove our faith for it quality. When we take God at His Word, we apply the defenses He gives us in Christ to overcome the enemy, who seeks to persuade us to do wrong. However, if our faith is not in God’s promise for victory, then it will fail. For desires from our sin nature, we apply the truth (Romans 6:4–6, 11, 13). When Satan attempts to overwhelm us, we apply the truth (Ephesians 6:10–18). Since we have been crucified to the world in Christ, we use it but do not abuse it (1 Corinthians 7:31; Galatians 6:14).
As a result of Abraham’s obedience, God made an oath to him. From Abraham would come a singular seed that would become numerous (Genesis 22:17). This promise is sometimes obscured in English translations due to the use of a singular pronoun in Hebrew to describe a seed as numerous as the stars and the sand. Paul clarifies in Galatians 3:16 that this promise refers to Christ. When God raised Christ from the dead, He created a new man (2 Corinthians 5:17). All who are saved today by believing the gospel for salvation (1 Corinthians 15:3–4) are immersed into this new creation (1 Corinthians 12:11–12). Thus, the singular seed is plural, and all those residing in Christ are sons of Abraham through faith (Galatians 3:7).
It is incorrect to assume that this oath nullifies the covenant of land given to Abraham’s descendants. The Church does not replace Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32). According to Revelation 3:9, those who falsely claim to be Jews are described as belonging to the synagogue of Satan. Once established, a covenant cannot be altered (Galatians 3:15). God will ultimately save a remnant of Israel, the physical descendants of Abraham (Romans 11:26).
Through Christ, all nations are blessed, as in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile; all are unified in one new body (Galatians 3:28). The Church exists under a better covenant, established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Consequently, Christian citizenship is in the heavens, not upon the earth (Philippians 3:20).
