Session 6: Genesis 22:1-19

Session 6: Genesis 22:1-19

Summarize

I.  God commands Abraham to sacrifice his only son Issac(22:1-3)

A. God grows Abraham's faith(antitype)

B.  Abraham obey's God by preparing to travel to the mountain to sacrifice his son.

II. Abraham brings Isaac to the place of sacrifice(22:4-6)

A.  God shows Abraham the place of sacrifice(4)

B. Abraham goes to the place of sacrifice alone with Isaac(5)

C. Abraham lays the burden of the implements of the sacrifice on Isaac(6)

III. Isaac is a willing sacrifice(22:7-10)

A.  Isaac asks his father where the sacrifice is and Abraham tells Isaac God will provide

B.  Abraham builds the altar,  ties up Isaac and places Isaac on the altar as a sacrifice and prepares to kill Isaac(9-10)

IV. The Lord provides a substitute sacrifice(22:11-14)

A.  The messenger of the Lord stays Abraham's hand from killing Isaac(11-12)

B. God rewards Abraham's absolute trust and obedience by providing a sacrifice(12-13)

C. Abraham worships God and names the mountain,  "The Lord will provide"

V. God reaffirms His covenant to Abraham(22:15-19)

A. God swears by Himself that He will uphold His covenant with Abraham(15-16)

B. God promises to make Abraham’s descendants into a nation that will bless the nations because of Abraham’s obedience(17-18)

C. Abraham goes back to his family and moves them to Beer-sheba

Analyze

1. What are these things that happened to Abraham in the previous chapter? (1, Gen 21)

a. Isaac, the long awaited child of promise, is finally given to Abraham in Gen 21, how  does this color your reading of God’s command to Abraham in Gen 22?

Read 1 Pet 1:6-7, Jas 1:2-4, Rom 5:3-4

b. Abraham demonstrated great faith and long-suffering waiting for Isaac, why would it be difficult to let go and obey God?

c. What would make it difficult for you to let go of some of the things you’ve waited on from God?

d. What are some things you need to surrender to God so that He can grow your character and faith?

2. How did Abraham respond to God’s command? How long did it take for Abraham to get to the place of sacrifice? Each day Abraham journeyed toward the the place of sacrifice the mountain would get bigger and bigger.  In the morning and evening the place of sacrifice would loom in the background an ever present reminder of what continued obedience to God meant.

a. How would the presence of the mountain make the journey/act of obedience difficult for Abraham?

b. What are some looming objects(fear, doubt, shame, anger) that make obeying God difficult for you right now?

3.  What does Abraham do in vs 5-6? What about this entire situation might give Isaac reason to ask his question in vs 7?

Abraham’s behavior is odd and doesn’t fit the format his servants or son are accustomed to seeing for sacrifice. However, as odd and as wrong as it might seem Isaac trusts his Father by obeying him.

a. What does Abraham’s statement about God providing demonstrate about Abraham’s character and faith in God?(8)

a. When faced with situations where obedience to God seem to make no sense, how have you responded? Has God given you the opportunity to be in a situation where there would be a colossal blunder if God didn’t show up? How is God giving you opportunities to grow in faith/confidence?

Abraham demonstrates great faith by showing he was willing to kill his long awaited son trusting that God would show up. In the original text it actually says that the Angel of the Lord stayed Abraham’s hand to keep him from killing Isaac. However, we must not overlook the incredible faith displayed by Isaac. His father tied him up and placed him on top of the wood of the for the altar.  If I were Isaac and someone tied me up, laid me on top of a bbq grill and then brought out a knife I would be struggling and fighting to get out of there.  However, what we find is Isaac trusting His father and being a willing sacrifice. Abraham and Isaac are the antitype of God the Father and Jesus.  God doesn’t require Abraham  or Isaac to make the ultimate sacrifice and foreshadows the provision and sacrifice He Himself will make for all mankind.

Read Isaiah 53:10, Philippians 2:5-10, Luke 22:42, Matt 26:39

b. How do the above passages and statement influence the way you read Genesis 22? How does knowing that God uses people to proclaim who He is, what He’s done, and what He will do shape the way you view the story of your life?

4. What does Abraham do in vs 13? How does this image clarify your understanding of “substitutionary atonement?”

Read Genesis 15, Exodus 20: 4-6

5. Who does God swear by in vs 16?Where does the weight of the responsibility in fulfilling and keeping the promise fall?(God or Abraham) How does this reinforce/clarify what you read in Genesis 15 and the covenant God makes with Abram?

a. Exodus 20:4-6 tells us what happens to those who disobey God and how God rewards the obedient.  How does Abraham’s obedience influence the decisions you make today that can have an impact on future generations?

Contextualize

1. God is and provides for the needs of His people
2. God blesses those who trust and obey Him
3. God gives us opportunities to grow in our confidence in Him

Actualize

Ask God to reveal how you can grow in your trust with Him. Share what God reveals with 2 friends that can encourage you and help you take the first step of faith.