Bible Reading
Genesis 22:1-19 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.” 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. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 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.” 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 together. 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?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both together. 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. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.” 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. 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 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 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, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.”
[38:57]John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
[55:58]Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
[01:01:46]Observation questions
- What details in Genesis 22 show both the costliness of God’s request and Abraham’s prompt response?
- What words does Abraham use with the servants before he and Isaac go up the mountain, and what does he tell Isaac when Isaac asks about the lamb? [51:20]
- What happens at the moment Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, and what substitute does God provide?
- What connections are made between Isaac carrying the wood, the place of Moriah, and Jesus’ sacrifice? [55:41]
Interpretation questions
- Genesis 22 begins by calling Abraham’s experience a test. How is a test from God different from being tempted to sin, and what does a test reveal about a person’s heart? [48:36]
- Abraham says that he and Isaac will return after worshiping, even though he does not know how God will provide. What does this reveal about faith when God’s command and God’s promise seem hard to hold together? [51:32]
- The ram dies in Isaac’s place, while Jesus dies for sinners who cannot save themselves. How do John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 help explain why the cross is the clearest proof of God’s love? [01:00:17]
- Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh, “The Lord will provide.” What does it mean that God sees ahead and provides before His children can see the full answer? [01:04:06]
Application questions
- What is an “Isaac” in your life—a blessing, relationship, goal, possession, or sense of control that would be difficult to place fully in God’s hands? What might it look like to surrender it without pretending that surrender is painless? [50:07]
- Is there an area where you know God is calling you to obey, but you have been delaying? What is one specific next step of obedience you could take this week? [52:51]
- When circumstances are painful or confusing, what usually happens to your worship, prayer, and trust? What would it look like to say, like Abraham, “I will still worship,” in the middle of a hard season? [51:49]
- Think about a current need, fear, or uncertainty that lies ahead of you. How does Jehovah Jireh encourage you to trust that God is already present and at work before you arrive there? [01:04:20]
- The cross shows that Jesus was not spared so that sinners could be forgiven and live. How should that truth shape the way you respond when you wonder whether God sees you, loves you, or cares about your pain? [01:00:49]
- Where could you give God the first of your time, talents, or treasures rather than offering Him what is left over? What would “all in” trust look like in one practical area of your life? [01:06:14]
