God tests us, but provides for us in our trials.

In Genesis 22, Abraham obeys the command of God and takes his son Isaac to the place he was told to offer his son as a sacrifice. This was a dark time for Abraham. In dark times, it can be difficult to find the goodness of God in the events unfolding around us.

But as Christians, we can trust God to do good to us. He does this in 3 ways:
God will test us.
God will provide for us in the trial
God will keep his promises.

Hebrews 12 tells us God tests us to make us grow: to become more like Jesus: in patience, faithfulness and joy. And the more God asks from us, the more he will test us. This is the proof of God’s love in the middle of trials.

In the end, God substituted a ram for the life of Isaac. He never intended for Abraham to go through with the sacrifice. In fact, the only human sacrifice God ever asked for was the death of his only son, whom he loves. We should have died, because of the evil we have done. But Jesus stood in our place, the perfect, sinless sacrifice.

Thank God for Jesus, who was offered up as a perfect lamb, the lamb of God, in our place. 

 

1. Why was is so important that Abraham obey the commands of God? What was unique about Abraham? What makes Abraham similar to us?

 

2. What trial are you experiencing now/ in the recent past? How might God be forming you in Jesus’ image, through this trial?

 

3. List 4 ways does God help us, in the midst of trials.

 

4. Why was the sacrifice of Jesus so special and so unique?