Go Deep

(Genesis 22)

Read Genesis 22:1-19. What about this passage impresses you, challenges you, or raises questions for you?

When we read the story of Abraham, it seems as if God is always appearing to him, but there are only 8 to 10 recorded encounters over a period of 100 years. What might this tell us about the life of obedience?

Verse 1 tells us that God tested Abraham. Why would God do that?

What exactly was God testing—Abraham’s character, or willpower, or intellect? Or was it something else? If so, what?

Do you think God tests us? Why might he do that?

Why does God call Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? Why not call him to sacrifice Ishamel?

Verse 3 says that Abraham left early the next morning to accomplish his mission. For conjecture: why did he leave so quickly?

What is the significance of verse 5? (Hebrews 11:17-19 provides insight into this verse.)

Read verse 6. What does this verse tell you about Isaac?

Read Isaac’s question in verse 7 and Abraham’s response in verse 8. Do you think Abraham was merely trying to pacify Isaac?

Do you think Abraham really would have gone through with the sacrifice and burnt offering of his son? Why or why not?

Read verse 12. Did God not already know that Abraham feared him?      

Read verses 13-14. “The LORD will provide” is a name: Yahweh-Yir’eh. Have you known God as Yahweh-Yir’eh? How and where?

In verse 18, God reaffirms his promise to Abraham, saying, “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” So, was God’s promised dependent on Abraham’s obedience or was Abraham’s obedience dependent on God’s promise? Explain.

What is there in this passage that we can apply to our lives and church?

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