warm-up

What is one experience you had as a child that inspired you to do things in a different way?

Who was your favorite teacher as a child? Why was he or she your favorite?

What is one unforgettable lesson you learned from your parent or guardian? Why was it unforgettable?

word

6“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6,7

(Read also Genesis 21:1-7, 22:1-14.)

God was faithful in Abraham’s life. The miraculous birth of Isaac showed this, as well as God’s promise that He would establish His covenant with Isaac and his offspring after him (Genesis 17:19) even before Isaac was born. Isaac witnessed God’s faithfulness throughout Abraham’s life and saw his father display utmost confidence and dependence on God. This was the example that he, as Abraham’s son, was to follow. Today, we will see how Isaac’s faith in God grew through the faith demonstrated by his father.

1
Isaac saw Abraham’s trust in God.

7And 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?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. Genesis 22:7,8

Isaac had probably carried wood for burnt offerings several times already and knew what it was for. But he wondered where the lamb for the sacrifice was. When Isaac heard his father’s response, he did not question it. His father’s complete trust that God would provide was enough to keep Isaac walking. According to Psalm 9:10, who are the people who put their trust in God? How do we demonstrate to the people closest to us that we trust God?

2
Isaac saw Abraham’s obedience to God.

9When 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. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. Genesis 22:9,10

In this passage, Isaac witnessed his father obey a very difficult command from God. Isaac was not just Abraham’s only son; he was the son promised to him by God, the only way he could be called a father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:5). Yet Abraham did not question God. Isaac saw how set his father was on obeying the God he trusted, from the moment he got up that day to the time he reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. How does seeing people’s obedience to God encourage you to do the same?

3
Through Abraham, Isaac saw the power of God.

13And 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. 14So 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

Because of Abraham’s obedience and trust in God, his son Isaac experienced how the angel of the Lord called from heaven and declared that he passed the test. Isaac saw how God provided a ram for the burnt offering. The obedience of Abraham put Isaac in a place where he personally witnessed the power of God. According to Psalm 71:18, to whom should we proclaim God’s power?

application

What can you do this week to be closer with someone who follows God? How can you learn to trust that God will fulfill His promises in your life as you walk closely with this person?

How can you demonstrate your complete trust and obedience in Jesus this week?

Name two to three people younger than you to whom you can declare God’s power. Pray for an open door to share about what God has done in your life.

prayer

Thank God for the people He placed in your life who help build your faith. Pray for more opportunities to see God’s reality and power as you relate with them.

Ask God for the grace to help build the faith of those around you as you obey and trust Him.

Pray that God will open doors for you to tell others about His reality and power in your life.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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