June 7-14: Abraham Makes an Offering (3)

SACRED ALTARS AND HOLY GIFTS

Unit I - The Genesis of Altars and Sacrifices (5 lessons)

3. Abraham Makes an Offering (lesson 3 of 5)

Daily Bible Meditations by Jasmine Lynch

Sunday, June 8: Genesis 17:15-22

God keeps His promises, even when we fail to exercise patience and decide God needs our help to accomplish His purpose. Abraham and his wife decided to help God in keeping His promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. Thus, Ishmael was born to Hagar, Abraham and Sarah's maid. They both thought that was how God's promise would be fulfilled. What a surprise it was to both Abraham and Sarah to learn from God that they both would become the parents of a son, Isaac, in their old age. It was through him that God's covenant with Abraham would be fulfilled. Nothing is impossible with God.

June 9: Romans 4:1-15

Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith and not his works. Hebrews 11:1 states, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for" (NKJV). Abraham believed God when He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations. Even though he did not have any children at the time, he believed God. Jesus promised that He would go and prepare a house for us and then come back for us. How is your faith holding up? Are you anxiously awaiting His return? Are you carrying out the Great Commission so others can go to live with you there? We do not know when Christ will return. Keep the faith.

Tuesday, June 10: Romans 4:16-25

We are Abraham's seed, if we have the faith to believe that what God has promised, He will deliver. Do you believe that God delivered up His Son because of our offenses and raised Him so that we could be justified (v.24-25)? Jesus' death brought us life. Abraham did not waver at God's promise but was strengthened by faith, giving glory to God. As you look at what is happening in the world today and the delay of Jesus' return, is your faith strengthened or is it weakened? Take heart, and know that what He says, He will do. His resurrection guarantees us life.

Wednesday, June 11: Genesis 12:1-7

Abraham was obedient to God and respected by his family. He was 75 years old when God told him to leave his home, his country, and everything he knew to go to a land that God would show him. As a 75-year old, would you follow a God you could not see to a land you had never been to and had no idea where it was? God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations, to bless him and those who blessed him, and to curse those who cursed him. He and his family left home for this mystery "Promised Land." Abraham had faith in God and, as a result, was a blessing to his family, the nations, and us.

Psalms 125-126

The Lord surrounds His people from the time they trust in Him. The psalmist prayed that God would do good to those who do good and are upright in their hearts, and that He would surround them and protect them from the workers of iniquity. What joy it had been for God's people to be brought back from captivity to their homeland! They laughed and shouted for joy, but most of all, they gave God the glory for doing such great things for them. In contrast, when the Israelite and American hostages held by Hamas for 471 days were set free recently, there was rejoicing and tears of joy, but I did not hear any praise given to God for setting them free.

Friday, June 13: Hebrews 11:8-12

"Without faith, it is impossible to please [God]" (Hebrews 11:6). Abraham's courageous faith was counted to him as righteousness. When he was 75 years old, God told him to leave his homeland for a land that would be his inheritance and to be the father of all nations. After he received the promise, he dwelt in the land as a foreigner, yet he had faith that God would fulfill His promise. It took 25 years for him to become a father, but God did keep His promise. We have a promise to be joint heirs with Christ in the New World. How is your faith holding up?

Sabbath, June 14: Genesis 22:1-14

Abraham had a personal relationship with God. In faith, he did what God required of him. I imagine that Abraham did not disclose this conversation with his wife. Abraham had left his homeland where sacrificing children to the gods was common. He was repulsed by the practice. Now God told him to go offer up his only son. Abraham offering up his only son foreshadows God offering up His only Son. God provided a lamb for the sacrifice for Abraham, but not for Jesus when He prayed, "Let this cup pass from me," because Jesus was the only Lamb who could take away our sins.

Reading:

Study: Genesis 22:1-14

Background: Genesis 22:1-19

Devotional: Romans 4:1-15

Key Verse:

And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided" (Genesis 22:14).

Heart of the Lesson:

Obedience and trust are marks of commitment to one an- other. What do we offer to demonstrate ultimate allegiance and commitment? Abraham passed the test of faithfulness to God in his willingness to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, on the altar.

Questions for Studying the Text:

1. Have you ever had your commitment tested by being given a difficult task? How did you respond? How did you feel about being tested?
2. What events in Abraham's life led up to this moment in Genesis 22 (See Genesis 12:1-9; 15:1-6; 17:15-21; 21:1-7)? How does this passage reflect God's covenant with Abraham (See Genesis 12:2-3; 17:1-8)?
3. Read Genesis 22:1. The text says, "Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham." What does it mean that God "tested" Abraham? (Compare with Deuteronomy 8:2 and James 1:2-4.) How did previous experiences of God's faithfulness (e.g., the birth of Isaac) prepare Abraham for this test?
4. What Biblical themes do you see in Abraham's response to Isaac's question, "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" (v.7-8). How does this passage foreshadow Jesus' sacrificial death? Compare Isaac's role with Christ's in passages like John 3:16, Romans 8:32, and Hebrews 11:17-19.
5. Have you ever faced a test of faith where you had to trust God without knowing the outcome? How did you respond? Abraham obeyed immediately without hesitation (v.3). What are some areas in your life where you need to demonstrate that same kind of obedience?

Understanding and Living - Ericessen Cooper

How's Your Walk?

The life of a Christian is a life that is marked by faith. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that "we walk by faith, not by sight." When I think of this passage, my mind most often goes back to Genesis 22, where Abraham was given a test of his faith and obedience by God. As a parent and grandparent, the tension in this chapter is almost too much to consider when looked at outside the bounds of Scripture. Try as we might, we cannot wrap our minds around God ask- ing Abraham to sacrifice his promised son. There is a reason why Abraham is listed within Hebrews 11, which has been called "the Faith Chapter."

The tension from Genesis 22 had been building throughout the life of Abraham, but it became most apparent starting in Genesis 17:16. It was here that God told Abraham that his wife, his 90-year-old wife, would give him a son. As would be the case with many of us, Abraham's response was to laugh (17:17). I wonder if that moment came back to his memory when Sarah did conceive and brought Isaac into the world (Genesis 21:2). The tension in these chapters reaches a climax by the time we get to Genesis 22.

Did God Really Say That?

The culture that Abraham was surrounded by at the time willingly sacrificed their children to the gods that they worshiped in certain circumstances. These sacrifices were offered to their gods as forms of fertility rituals and ways to communicate with their deities. Not offering their children to Molech, a god that the Amorites and Canaanites worshiped, was specifically commanded in Leviticus 18. The ways in which the children were sacrificed are beyond human comprehension. When we read the passage, it seems that God asked Abraham to do something that went against the character and nature of God. Would God allow child sacrifice? How do we justify what appears to be a contradiction?

Scripture makes it clear that God opposes human sacrifices, as seen in Leviticus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10. God specifically forbade child sacrifice, which is why Genesis 22 begins with, "God tested Abraham" (Genesis 22:1). It is clear from the text that God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, and it seems that Abraham believed that God would somehow preserve Isaac's life.

This is a Test

The test began with God giving Abraham instructions on what he was to do. The command was to, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac" (v.2). Each phrase of that sentence builds on the previous phrase and gives us great insight into Abraham and Isaac. We see the word "son" mentioned over ten times and the phrase "your son, your only son" three times. This illustrates not only the relationship of father and son, but the deep love and affection that Abraham had for Isaac. It also reminds us that Isaac was the chosen vessel by which God would fulfill His promise.

Abraham, accompanied by his son and two servants, undertook 50-mile journey to Moriah where he was in- structed to perform a sacrifice (v.3). I can only imagine the emotions that must have been going through his mind. Three days is a lot of time to think on what God was asking of him. Nearing their destination, Abraham informed the servants: "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back" (v.5, NLT). Abraham did not say, "We will worship, and I will come right back." He included his son in the return trip, indicating his belief that both would return together. Abraham evidently trusted that God would intervene or, if necessary, believed that God could resurrect Isaac (Hebrews 11:19).

The Lord Will Provide

Verses 6-14 show us the emphasis of this passage. Isaac asked the question, "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" (v.7). Abraham responded, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son" (v.8). Abraham found himself in the place of total dependance on God and nothing else. He certainly could not trust his feelings. I can only imagine the pain that he must have felt at the very thought of sacrificing his son. He could not confide in his wife Sara because she was at home. The servants that accompanied them for the journey were left at camp. The only thing that Abraham had was his faith in God.

Verses 9 -10 record the building of the altar and the act of Abraham binding his son, his only son, and placing him on top of the wood on the altar. It is hard to fathom what must have been going through their minds as this was happening. Scripture does not record any hesitation on the part of Isaac or Abraham. As Abraham lifted the knife to slay his son, the angel of the Lord called out to Abraham with the command not to harm his son. Abraham passed the test that God had given. Abraham did fear God and did not withhold anything from Him (v.12).

This passage emphasizes the provision that Abraham received from God. God provided a ram for the burnt offering. Isaac was freed, and the ram was sacrificed in his place. Abraham had passed the test. Abraham called the name of that place "The Lord Will Provide" (v.14). He knew that from first-hand experience!

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac, as difficult as is to think about, stands as a clear witness to God's claim on us as the Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth. We know that God's ultimate provision for us is pictured here in Genesis 22. In the Old Testament, animals were sac- rificed to the Lord. When we get to the New Testament, we see Jesus as the once for all perfect sacrifice. That is what John had in mind when he introduced Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Genesis 22 is all about a faith- ful servant that obeyed God, no matter the cost, and in the end experienced God's provision. The Lord provides!

Hints for Teaching:

Lesson Goals:

1. Examine the level of trust Abraham demonstrates in obeying God's call.
2. Value God's testing and trusting in our own lives.
3. Promise obedience to God in the midst of testing.

Teaching Activity:

Set up a Socratic Seminar to encourage critical thinking about Genesis 22. Prepare open- ended questions based on themes and key words from the lesson (i.e., "What does it truly mean to trust in God when faced with impossible commands?" and "In what ways does the promise of God's provision challenge our modern-day reliance on self- sufficiency?") Arrange the room in a circle and have students take turns leading discussion segments. Guide the conversation to explore different interpretations, focusing on both historical context and contemporary application. Ask students to consider how these discussions might impact their personal faith journey.

Looking Back:

Abraham's faith has challenged us to evaluate our commitment to the Lord through our obedience and trust. Next, we will reflect on how Isaac reflected the faith that was passed down to him by his father.