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1. Chapter 22 records one of the most pivotal episodes in Abraham’s life. Following are two versions of verse 1:
The
What does the Bible say about
God tempting us? (See
2. Why would God test someone?
What are some ways that God might test us?
Have you ever been tested? If so, would you mind sharing one of those tests?
What did you learn from being tested?
Read I Peter 1:7. How does this verse relate to this aspect of Abraham’s life?
3. We have spent considerable time looking at Abraham’s shortcomings and his growth. Look at his response to God’s call in verse 1. What does this tell you about Abraham?
In what ways would you say Abraham has matured?
Can you learn anything about how old Isaac would be?
4. What does God tell Abraham to do?
Why do you think God told Abraham to take his son, HIS ONLY SON?
If you were Abraham, what might you be thinking?
What can we learn about Abraham in that he does not verbally respond to God’s command?
5. According to verse 3, what does Abraham do?
6. What does it mean to you that Abraham took his son the next morning?
In what way is this call similar to the first call Abraham received from God?
Whom does Abraham take with him?
Why do you think Abraham cut the wood for the sacrifice before leaving? Why didn’t he cut it at the site of the sacrifice?
What do you think the servants and Isaac were thinking?
7. How long did Abraham and Isaac have to travel before they reached the place God had chosen?
What is significant about this time frame?
Look carefully at what Abraham tells his servants in verse 4. What does he tell them?
God told Abraham to go to this place to sacrifice. Abraham tells his servants that he and Isaac are going to worship the LORD. How do you explain Abraham’s choice of words?
What is the relation between sacrifice and worship?
Why do you think Abraham told his servants that both he and Isaac would return?
8. Who carried the wood for the sacrifice?
What is the significance of this act?
Of what does this remind you?
9. In verse 7 Isaac speaks up. What does he ask his father?
In a similar situation, what question does Jesus ask of His Father?
What do you think was going through Isaac’s mind?
What was Abraham’s answer?
What do you think Abraham meant by this?
What is the significance of the last part of verse 8?
Again, how does this parallel Jesus’ response to God when He was in the garden?
10. Verse 9 very simply states what happened next. When they reached the top of the mountain, what did Abraham do?
We are told that Abraham tied Isaac up and placed him on the altar. How do you think he managed to do this? In other words, why didn’t Isaac fight back or run away?
What does this tell us about Isaac?
In what way do Isaac’s actions point to Jesus?
11. Verse 10 says that Abraham took his knife to slay his son. What do you think is actually happening in this verse?
Was Abraham really going to kill his son, or do you think he knew God would stop him? Please explain.
Remember Abraham’s words to his servants: both he and Isaac would return. How do you explain these words seeing that Abraham is just seconds from killing his son?
12. Who stops Abraham?
What does the angel of the LORD tell Abraham?
This situation is similar to what happened to Hagar and Ishmael. Remember, God opened her eyes so she could see the well. Now, God opens Abraham’s eyes so he can see the ram. Was the ram there all the time?
What is the significance of God’s replacing Abraham’s sacrifice with His sacrifice?
What implication does this hold for us?
If the ram is symbolic of God’s providing Jesus as a replacement for our sacrifice, what is God teaching us in this episode?
Also, what does it mean that the sacrifice (the ram) had always been there, but Abraham could not see it?
13. What does Abraham do when he finally sees the ram?
What do you think Isaac was doing? (Remember, what did Abraham tell the servants they were going to the mountain to do?)
What does Abraham name this place?
In the Hebrew, this name translates into Jehovah Jireh, another one of God’s names. What does it mean to you that God is our Provider?
What does it mean to you when Abraham says, “On the mountain of the LORD, it will be provided?”
14. What can we learn about Abraham through this testing?
The angel of the LORD appears to Abraham a second time. What does he tell Abraham?
What was God looking for in Abraham?
At the end of verse 18, we read why God was going to fulfill His promises. What was that reason?
15. Where does Abraham go after he comes down from the mountain?
Can you locate this place on your map?
16. This is a very significant chapter for Abraham and for us. What would you say are the biggest lessons Abraham learned?
What has this chapter taught you about God?
About sacrifice?
About Jesus?
17. The last part of this chapter addresses Nahor. Who was he?
Why do you think God tells Abraham about his brother?
Do any of the names of Nahor’s children mean anything to you? |