Today’s Bulletin
OUTLINE
I. Worst Test Ever (v.1-2)
II. Road Trip (v.3-5)
III. Isaac’s Awkward Question (v.6-8)
IV. You Don’t Know Submission (v.9-10)
V. Jehovah Jireh Ram Providah (v.11-14)
VI. I Will Surely Bless You (v.15-19)
VII. Expansion (v.20-24)
Genesis 22
1 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.”
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.””
Sermon Discussion questions
Ok, So We’re Doing This: Genesis 22
Ice Breaker: What family tradition do you look forward to most, and why?
This Week Specific
Just discuss this quote by John Ortberg
“Obedience to Jesus in all things is the journey. Obedience is a far more creative, proactive, grace-powered, intelligent way of life than is normally thought in our day. The obedience Jesus called for requires judgment, discernment, creativity and initiative. It is about becoming an excellent person not an excellent rule follower. In fact, an obsessive concern with following rules will hinder your development in becoming the kind of person that does what Jesus says.”Abraham Abraham
In verse 11 the angel speaks Abraham’s name twice, this is the first of seven instances in Scripture where God or his angel refers to someone by their name in this manner, what do think is the significance?
Here are the other instances.Abraham, Abraham – Genesis 22:11
Jacob, Jacob – Genesis 46:2
Moses, Moses – Exodus 3:4
Samuel, Samuel – 1 Samuel 3:10
Martha, Martha – Luke 10:41
Simon, Simon – Luke 22:31
Saul, Saul – Acts 9:4
Reflecting on Tests of Faith
Think about a time when you felt God was testing your faith. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?How does seeing God’s testing as an opportunity for growth change how you view current challenges?
Trusting God’s Provision
Abraham said, “God will provide” without knowing how. Where in your life do you need to trust that God will provide, even if the way forward seems unclear?Sacrificing Idols in Our Lives
Sometimes we value God’s gifts (like family, career, relationships) over God Himself. What areas of your life have you have made an idol of a good gift? What does it look like to practically “lay it on the altar” and place it under God’s control?Facing ‘Unreasonable’ Commands with Faith
Abraham’s command felt impossible and unreasonable, yet he chose faith. What teachings of Scripture feel especially challenging for you to follow (e.g., forgiveness, purity, generosity)? What does obedience in these areas look like for you this week?Confidence in God’s Promises
Abraham’s obedience was anchored in confidence in God’s promises. What specific promises from Scripture encourage you in difficult times?
Weekly Questions
What stood out to you/challenged you most in this sermon?
What’s one area you feel the Lord wants to grow you into more Christ likeness?
How can this group pray for you this week?