Sermon Summary: In Genesis 22 God gives Abraham a command to go and sacrifice his son Isaac at the place God would show him. Genesis lets us know that this is a test but for Abraham, it is a horribly painful journey where his trust in God is pushed to the limits. Through all of it, God is teaching Abraham and us that our ultimate significance and security is rooted in God. We can trust God to completely provide for our needs as God both atones for our sin and blesses us with new life.
Memory Verse: 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.” Genesis 22:13-14 (ESV)
Discussion Questions:
- Read through Genesis 22:1-19. We recommend using the questions from the DNA Meeting Guide to help guide your study of this text. The guide also gives your DNA group a simple structure to work through the passage and discuss together.
- Getting to the Heart - What are your initial thoughts on God’s call for Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? How does this story capture the tension between God’s justice and God’s promise of blessing? What is most difficult for you about this text? Where do you see shadows of Christ in this text?
- Prayer and Application - What people or possessions do you tend to have as “off-limits” to God? What might keep you from trusting him with these things? Why is God committed to teaching us to trust him as our provider above anything in creation?
Kids Worship Questions:
- Read Genesis 22:1-19. Draw a picture that represents what is happening in the story.
- What does God ask Abraham to do in this story? Why do you think God would test Abraham?
- How does this story point us to Jesus? How does Jesus sacrificial death for us help us trust God to provide for all that we need (both forgiveness and new life)?