The Sacrifice of Isaac: Ultimate Faith & Obedience
Genesis 22 - 23
Suppose God asked you to give up someone or something at the very center of your life - a loved one, your home, profession or plans for the future. How would you respond? Sometimes God calls us to follow him in ways that don't make sense to us.
GROUP DISCUSSION. How have you felt when God seems to be calling you to a new course of action that is contrary to guidance he had already given?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. In what family relationship is your obedience to the will of God causing some strain?
In this study we walk with Abraham through a valley of testing in a soul-wracking experience. His example can help us learn how God provides for those who honor him with their trust.
Read Genesis 22.
1. In 22:1-2 what phrases emphasize the importance and difficulty of God's command?
2. Describe some of the thoughts and emotions you would have if you were Abraham.
3. What do the details of the narrative reveal about Abraham's response to this incredibly difficult assignment (22:3-10)?
4. Notice God's words to Abraham in 22:12. Based on Abraham's example what does it mean to "fear" God?
5. How does God's provision in 22:13-14 fulfill the confidence Abraham expresses in 22:5, 8?
6. Describe a time when obedience to God required you to give up someone or something you loved.
How did the Lord provide for you in that difficult time?
7. In verses 15-19 why is it an especially appropriate time for the Lord to reaffirm his promises?
8. Read Genesis 23. When Abraham decides to bury Sarah among the Hittites, how do they react to his first request (23:1-6)?
9. How does he then proceed to secure her grave (23:7-16)?
10. Why do you think Abraham persists in his desire to own the burial plot?
11. How was the purchase of her grave a sign of trust that God was going to give them their own land?
12. How can these two chapters encourage us to trust God when we still don't see the answers to our pressing needs?
Pray that God will increase your trust in him as you walk paths of uncertainty.
Suppose God asked you to give up someone or something at the very center of your life - a loved one, your home, profession or plans for the future. How would you respond? Sometimes God calls us to follow him in ways that don't make sense to us.
GROUP DISCUSSION. How have you felt when God seems to be calling you to a new course of action that is contrary to guidance he had already given?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. In what family relationship is your obedience to the will of God causing some strain?
In this study we walk with Abraham through a valley of testing in a soul-wracking experience. His example can help us learn how God provides for those who honor him with their trust.
Read Genesis 22.
1. In 22:1-2 what phrases emphasize the importance and difficulty of God's command?
2. Describe some of the thoughts and emotions you would have if you were Abraham.
3. What do the details of the narrative reveal about Abraham's response to this incredibly difficult assignment (22:3-10)?
4. Notice God's words to Abraham in 22:12. Based on Abraham's example what does it mean to "fear" God?
5. How does God's provision in 22:13-14 fulfill the confidence Abraham expresses in 22:5, 8?
6. Describe a time when obedience to God required you to give up someone or something you loved.
How did the Lord provide for you in that difficult time?
7. In verses 15-19 why is it an especially appropriate time for the Lord to reaffirm his promises?
8. Read Genesis 23. When Abraham decides to bury Sarah among the Hittites, how do they react to his first request (23:1-6)?
9. How does he then proceed to secure her grave (23:7-16)?
10. Why do you think Abraham persists in his desire to own the burial plot?
11. How was the purchase of her grave a sign of trust that God was going to give them their own land?
12. How can these two chapters encourage us to trust God when we still don't see the answers to our pressing needs?
Pray that God will increase your trust in him as you walk paths of uncertainty.
Now or Later
In what ways do you find yourself identifying with Abraham in this test of faith and obedience?
posted by Christinewjc at
4:10 PM
1 Comments:
Genesis 22 - 23
Suppose God asked you to give up someone or something at the very center of your life - a loved one, your home, profession or plans for the future. How would you respond?
It would be very difficult to do, but trusting God in the situation turns out for the best. Our family has gone through such experiences in the past and giving it all to the Lord in the decision making is the best route to take; despite our own fears, concerns and doubts. God guides us through all of the good, bad, and even ugly times in our lives. Trusting Him and talking to Him in fervent prayer is important in this life. Our lives ultimately belong to Him anyway!
Sometimes God calls us to follow him in ways that don't make sense to us.
It may not make sense right now, but one day we will know why certain things happened the way that they did!
GROUP DISCUSSION. How have you felt when God seems to be calling you to a new course of action that is contrary to guidance he had already given?
I have felt inadequate, doubtful, frightened, hesitant and often have procrastinated with how to take action. But when I pray for guidance and rely on His strength, he sees me through...every time.
PERSONAL REFLECTION. In what family relationship is your obedience to the will of God causing some strain?
Sometimes I feel that my husband would rather I get a job and earn extra money instead of sharing Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible online. I often wonder if he thinks it's a waste of time. Sometimes I think that his fishing trips are a waste of time and cost too much money. But I don't tell him that.
In this study we walk with Abraham through a valley of testing in a soul-wracking experience. His example can help us learn how God provides for those who honor him with their trust.
Read Genesis 22.
1. In 22:1-2 what phrases emphasize the importance and difficulty of God's command?
God told Abraham to take his only son Isaac and sacrifice him on a mountain as a burnt offering. It was a test of Abraham's obedience.
2. Describe some of the thoughts and emotions you would have if you were Abraham.
He was to give up a person who he truly loved and this must have been excruciatingly difficult to fathom. I would ask why God was requiring such a difficult thing!
3. What do the details of the narrative reveal about Abraham's response to this incredibly difficult assignment (22:3-10)?
He obeyed. Despite the difficulty and the pain he was probably feeling about what God asked him to do, he was willing to go through with it.
4. Notice God's words to Abraham in 22:12. Based on Abraham's example what does it mean to "fear" God?
It means to obey and have reverence for Him.
5. How does God's provision in 22:13-14 fulfill the confidence Abraham expresses in 22:5, 8?
Abraham trusted the Lord to provide the substituted lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham trusted God to provide. Abraham showed that he loved God even more than his long-awaited son, Isaac. This was a foreshadowing of the substitutional sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sakes.
6. Describe a time when obedience to God required you to give up someone or something you loved.
A former boyfriend who I knew was not right for me wanted to get married. I knew in my heart that he wasn't the one I should marry. It was difficult to split from him because then I would be alone (and was alone for many months).
How did the Lord provide for you in that difficult time?
However, it was soon after this break-up that I met my husband! We have been married for 22 years. I think that because Christ is central in our lives, He has brought us through all of our ups and downs in our marriage. We have the joy of two beautiful children who have grown to love the Lord as young adults.
7. In verses 15-19 why is it an especially appropriate time for
the Lord to reaffirm his promises?
Because Abraham did not hold back his son Isaac and obeyed God, he was blessed in so many ways! Abraham's decendants would bless the whole earth. People's lives would be changed for the better. The gifts of blessing given to Abraham extended to many others.
8. Read Genesis 23. When Abraham decides to bury Sarah among the Hittites, how do they react to his first request (23:1-6)?
Abraham had gained the respect of the people living in that land so they granted his request.
9. How does he then proceed to secure her grave (23:7-16)?
He wanted to be fair to Ephron so he offered to pay for the burial place. They bargained for a while, but ultimately Abraham knew it would be best to pay for the land.
10. Why do you think Abraham persists in his desire to own the burial plot?
It was a custom to barter like this. Abraham didn't want to go against the customs of that time or place. He didn't want to insult Ephron.
11. How was the purchase of her grave a sign of trust that God was going to give them their own land?
Even though Abraham knew that God would provide the land as promised, he didn't want to just take it away from Ephron. Paying the full price for it was a sign that he didn't want to take anything that he didn't deserve.
12. How can these two chapters encourage us to trust God when we still don't see the answers to our pressing needs?
Trusting God to provide for our needs, even when we don't see the answers immediately, shows that the importance of obedience in our relationship with the Lord is what ultimately pleases Him.
Pray that God will increase your trust in him as you walk paths of uncertainty.
Now or Later
In what ways do you find yourself identifying with Abraham in this test of faith and obedience?
I have learned to trust God and go to Him in prayer FIRST, rather than try to accomplish things or changes in my life on my own. Obedience to His Word is the way to go in all circumstances. No matter what the world would want us to do, it is our faith that is accounted for righteousness. Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ is what carries us through everything we go through in this life.
Romans 8:38 - For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Romans 8:39 - Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Christinewjc, at 6:12 PM
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