“The Scripture Cannot be Broken” (John 10:35)
1.
A bond made by a father and son.
2.
A bond dependent on respect and trust.
Genesis 22:1-14 After
these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he
said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only
son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as
a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3 So
Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his
young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt
offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the
third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then
Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy
will go over there and worship and come again to you." 6 And Abraham took
the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his
hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac said to his
father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my
son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the
lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide for
himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them
together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham
built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and
laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand
and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to
him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here
I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do
anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld
your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and
looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of
his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will
provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it
shall be provided."
It's
sad that today’s story is one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented in
the entire Bible. What makes this so unfortunate is that in reality it is one
of more important and endearing portions of God’s Word. Those who oppose God’s
Word say that it’s another example of typical backwards thinking displayed
throughout the Bible, especially the Old Testament. We hear people say, “How
could you follow a God who would demand human sacrifice?!”
But,
the entire purpose of this text is that God didn’t
require Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. The entire text pivots on the importance of
a substitute. There are many lessons for us to learn in this story. We see
examples of great faith in both Abraham and Isaac. We see an emotional glimpse
into the difficulty of following and trusting God no matter what. Most
importantly, we see a story of love as God connects what Abraham and Isaac
endured (as father and son) to what He and Jesus endured (as Father and Son).
It’s this bond, linked together throughout the holy and inspired pages of God’s
Word, that makes this story one of the most important to our faith.
Our
theme is pointed at that bond. A bond between Father and Son and the qualities
they displayed. But also a bond in Scripture that connects these thoughts with
the suffering and death of our Savior, Jesus – the only Son who was not spared. So, we center our thoughts
on a single passage where Jesus described the unshakeable unity of His Father’s
Word – “The Scripture cannot be broken.”
It
was a tense moment in Jesus’ ministry when He spoke those words. He was
conversing with the Jewish leaders. Jesus had just taught that famous speech
about being the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep and promises
them eternal life. Immediately, in response to that promise we’re told that the
Jews took up stones to kill Jesus. They thought He had blasphemed by claiming to
do what only God could do. And so, Jesus pleads with them to examine the
record. Had they really thought this through or were they being led by emotion?
Because, the Scripture cannot be broken. Jesus taught them that when they examined
God’s Word, they would find an inseparable bond between the Father and the Son.
This
same principle was at play long ago on Mount Moriah. Consider for a moment all
that was at stake for God in this story. God hated the heathen religions that
demanded human sacrifice. Although His people Israel were not a unified nation
at the time of Abraham, we know from their subsequent history where God stood
on this matter. Jehovah was not the God who demanded human sacrifices. That’s
one thing that separated Him from other false gods. At no other point would the
true God demand a human sacrifice. And yet, this is the very thing He required
of Abraham. Would God betray His very nature?
Another
thing at stake was God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many
nations. Think of how long Abraham had waited for Isaac to be born. That
process alone was a tremendous test of Abraham’s faith. Finally, the
fulfillment had come and God now wanted Abraham to kill his son. How could it
be? Killing Isaac would negate the established promise that God provided. It
would have turned all the prior tests of faith into pointless exercises – cruel
expressions of the divine playing games with mortals.
And
perhaps greatest of all, the salvation of the entire world was at risk here,
for Isaac was also the heir of the Messianic promise. If he died, so also would
that promise die, unless God either raised him from the dead or gave Abraham
another heir. What agony must have been on Abraham’s heart and mind – seemingly
pulled in two impossible directions; love my son, or follow my God.
Each
of these results threatened the bond between father and son; not just between
Abraham and Isaac but also between the Father and Jesus. As impossible of a
situation as this seemed, the bond remained. As Jesus declared, the Scripture
cannot be broken. That was true that day in Jerusalem and it was true that day
on the mountain. As impossible as it seemed, God would not allow the bond to be
broken – between father and son, and between the promise of His Word.
When
everything seemed like it was about to fall about – a substitute enters. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked,
and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. God
sent a substitute so that the bond would remain. God sent a substitute so that
Isaac would be spared. God sent a substitute to vindicate His own merciful
nature and to preserve the promise of salvation. Everything in this story
surrounds the substitute. The horrific notions of this text only endure
when the substitute is ignored. Listen to what God is describing. The
terrifying shock of all the extremes we mentioned earlier is a glimpse into
what life is like for deserving sinners when there is no substitute. Who
doesn’t shutter at the thought of human sacrifice? Who doesn’t cringe at the
thought of Abraham losing the very purpose and meaning of His life? Who is not
angered at the thought of the innocent being condemned to death? Without a
substitute, we would be left with these feelings and emotions.
Likewise,
just as the bond between Abraham and Isaac remained, so also the bond between
the Father and the Son remained. The Scripture would not be broken that day,
nor would it be broken on Good Friday. As the righteous substitute for sinners,
Jesus would ascend the cross in our place. He would carry our punishment so
that we could go free. Yet, despite the many parallels, there is one
difference. God’s Son would not be spared. The heavenly Father’s comparison
with Abraham is fitting except in this one point. The materials would be
gathered. The altar prepared. The Father would bind His Son, His only son, to
the edifice of expiation. The implement of divine wrath would be yielded. Yet
for Jesus, there was no escape as there was for Isaac. The death blow of God’s
justice over sin would be fully met in His Son’s body upon the cross. Jesus was the Substitute.
Isaac
needed to be spared to preserve the bond of father and son – and the bond of
Scripture. In contrast, Jesus would need to be sacrificed to achieve the same
end. The bond of Jesus and the Father was at stake on Calvary’s mountain. And
as it pertains to you, so also was your bond with the heavenly Father as sons
and daughters; rightful heirs of salvation. There was no other way to preserve
the Scriptures. And so, as Jesus concluded with the Jewish leaders in His plea
to consider the truth, He said, “…believe
the works [that I do], that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me,
and I in Him.” Jesus held together the bond of His Word, so that sinners
could believe that the Father is in Him, and He in the Father. A bond between
father and son.
Jesus
became the sacrifice, suffering the very torments involved with a father
offering up His only Son, so that you could believe and know. Believe and
know what exactly? The same thing Abraham declared, that “the LORD will provide.” That’s why the
bond of Scripture is important. That’s why the bond between the Father and the
Son is important. So that you and I can believe that God will provide.
We
see how that works in our text also. Faith takes an obedient, trusting attitude
with God. Three times we see that displayed by Abraham, who upon following
God’s will responds, “Here I am.”
When the LORD calls, Abraham responds. When God’s plan is in motion, Abraham
listens. This is the trusting obedience of faith. Abraham knew and believed
what God said even though his entire being must have been filled with sorrow
and shock. When all else seemed gone, Abraham still had his faith. This is the
listening ear of faith, not the accusatory shout of defiance. And as Abraham
clung to His LORD, he would witness the miracle of God’s mercy upon that
mountain.
And
so, we continue to believe and trust that God will provide. You know, the
actual Hebrew of this phrase is that “God
will see.” The same idea can mean that God looks upon or even visits. He
sees with intention, with purpose. This is a common Biblical expression for
blessing. Think of the familiar Benediction – “The LORD make His face shine upon, and lift up His countenance upon
you.” Abraham and Isaac were not alone that day – God was watching. God
saw. God provided. And Abraham believed and memorialized that gracious thought.
In
the pain and the suffering, you experience, whether at your hands or someone
else’s – the same blessing is in effect – God sees. God looks upon you with
intention – to provide. Never forget why. Never forget the bond that will never
be broken; a bond between a Father and a Son. Never forget, that because Jesus
was forsaken; because no substitute was given for Him; because darkness reigned
on the day of His crucifixion; because your Father provided for you and not for
His own Son – you are saved. You are now His Child, and He made good on His
promise – The Good Shepherd will lay down His life for the sheep - and no one
can snatch you from His hand. Amen.
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