Bible Study Online Article

In the last article, we'd read about the oath, that Abraham and Abimelech had made between each other -- after their two camps had a fallen out. As a matter of fact, it was Abimelech's camp that had decided, to take a water-well that the two camps were sharing.

Know that Abimelech's camp would do this through tactics, that involved, force and intimidation.

And because of this situation, the Sacred Record reveals, that Abraham had became extremely angry.

And make no mistake, when it comes to Abraham -- Abimelech will pay close attention, for he knew that Abraham was highly favored by the Lord.

And this is why, we now find Abimelech, riding out to meet with Abraham: "At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, 'God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.'" -- Genesis 21:22,23

And of course, with Abraham being the type of person that he was, he would agree to honor Abimelech's request. However, it would also be at this time, that Abraham mentions the water-well incident to Abimelech. And after hearing what Abraham had to say about the incident. Abimelech makes the claim that he didn't know about it. Nonetheless, Abimelech and Abraham -- would eventually make amends, by doing an oath at a place, that would later be known as "Beersheba the Well of the Oath".

However as we move forward, we now find ourselves reaching a point from within Abraham's walk with God -- to where we now find the Lord presenting Abraham with perhaps, his greatest faith challenge test to date? Know that God, begins this "faith challenge test" by calling out to Abraham. And after hearing the voice of the Lord, Abraham answers: "Here I am".

Now it would be at this time, that God would give Abraham some very important instructions: "Take your son your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a brunt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." -- Genesis 22:2

So early the next morning, Abraham awoke and headed outside. And it would be at this time, that he started to cut the wood that he would need for the brunt offering, that God had instructed him about the other day. Now after Abraham had cut enough wood for his current task, he would saddle his donkey. And after doing this -- Abraham took with him, two servants and his son Isaac, and headed out towards the place -- that God had told him about.

Now, when Abraham had reached the third day during their journey, he looked up, and saw the place that God had told him about at a great distance. And it's at this point, that Abraham would turn and tell the group, that was traveling with him: "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

And after Abraham had told them this -- he and his son Isaac, would continue onward, to journey on by themselves. And they would travel for a short distance, before they'd reached the place that God had told Abraham about. And it's at this time, that Isaac would carry the wood, that his father had cut for the brunt offering -- while Abraham had carried the flint to make the fire, and the knife.

However, something would seem strange to Isaac? For he'd called out to his father: "Father?" And Abraham responded by saying: "Yes my son?" Then Isaac would tell his father: "The fire and wood is here, but where is the lamb for the brunt offering?" And after hearing this, Abraham responded by saying: "God Himself will provide the lamb for the brunt offering, my son."

Now in the meantime, the two of them had finally reached the place, that God had told Abraham about. And it's at this point, that Abraham would build an altar unto the Lord. And after Abraham had finished building the altar, he started to arrange the wood on it. Next he would bound his son Isaac, and then instruct him to lay on top of the wood, that was on the altar.

Now I would like to point out at this time, when it comes to Isaac? That I personally believe, that Isaac had allowed himself to be bound, and had went willingly to the altar? For we must understand, that Isaac at this time in his life, would have been around twenty-five years old. Now this could easily make one wonder about, how much he truly loved his father? For you must know, that he'd trusted his father, so-much-so... that he willingly allowed his father, to place him on the altar, as a sacrifice to the Most High God.

Then Abraham would proceed to bring forth the knife, so that he could slay his very own son, just like God had ordered him to do. But it would also be at this time, that an angel of the Lord would call out to him: "Abraham! Abraham!" And after hearing this, Abraham replied: "Here I am!" Then the angel of the Lord spoke to him saying: "Do not lay a hand on the boy; do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son".

Now keep in mind, that although Abraham had two sons, with the other being Ishmael -- know that it was Isaac, that was the "promised seed" that God had originally foretold to Abraham: "Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'" -- Genesis 17:19

And if God would have allowed Abraham, to go through with sacrificing Isaac? Know that this very action, would have went against that very promise that the Lord had made some time ago to Abraham: "I will establish my covenant with [Isaac] as an everlasting covenant for [Isaac's] descendants after him." And you know what... often times, I wonder if Abraham had this promise in the back of his mind, while he was being obedient to the Most High?

Nonetheless, remember that Ishmael had came about -- because of the impatience, and faithlessness, of Sarah -- and to some degree, Abraham as well. For we'd learned, that Sarah had continued to doubt the Word of God -- when it came to her being able, to have her very own child. And because of her lack of trust, and faith in the Most High -- she convinces Abraham, to go along with a different plan, that was not of God.

And because of this, Sarah would find herself (along with Hagar) going through a season of family strife, and heartache -- that ended with Sarah pressuring Abraham, to force out Hagar, and his first born son Ishmael -- out into the wilderness. Know that this would not have been a season, that Abraham's household, would had to endure -- if they would have trusted the Lord more, and had the faith to see the promise (God's Word), that the Most High had on their lives, come to pass.

However that may have been... as we turn our attention back to our current journey? We find, that it's also at this point... that Abraham had looked up, and he'd saw a ram, that had been caught by his horns in the thicket of bushes -- that were located near by. So Abraham would go, and retrieve the ram from the thicket of bushes. Next we find, that he would sacrifice the ram as a brunt offering, instead of his son Isaac. And because of this, Abraham would name that place: "The Lord will Provide." And to this very day, when it comes to this place, it's known to be said: "On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided."

Next we find that God would swear (make an oath) by Himself, when it comes to Him blessing Abraham's seed:

"An angel of the Lord would call out to Abraham from the heavens for a second time and said, 'I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through you offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." -- (Genesis 22:15-18)

And after this had happened, Abraham and Isaac would return back to their servants, that were waiting for them. And after doing so, the group headed back to Beersheba, the place where they had dwelled.

Now that Abraham had just finished passing another faith test, that the Lord had placed before him. We now begin to move forward. And it's at this time, that we find that Abraham's life becomes emotionally difficult -- as he loses someone that's very close, and dear to him.

God Creates the Earth

The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men

The Introduction of Abraham

**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham

17) The Birth of Isaac

18) Hagar & Ishmael - Sent Away

19) Hagar the Fighter

Added to Page 19) Hagar the Mother of a Great Nation

20) Abraham & The Well of Oath

21) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->

22) The Death of Sarah

23) Eliezer of Damascus

24) The Discovery of Rebekah

25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave

26) Isaac meets Rebekah

27) The Last Years of Abraham

28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael

29) The Birth of Esau & Jacob