Read Together: Genesis 22:1–19
One text that was traditionally read during the Jewish Feast of Trumpets was the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. This is the story where the Lord tests Abraham and his trust in God’s promises. God had promised that it was through Isaac that he would make Abraham into a great nation. Now the Lord tells Abraham to offer up Isaac to him as a sacrifice.
Abraham obeys, not wavering in his faith in God’s promises, and at the last moment, the Lord orders Abraham to stop and provides a ram for the sacrifice. The main point of this story is that the Lord provides. He provides a substitute for Isaac. And this of course clearly points us to Jesus. Jesus is God’s beloved Son who is our sacrifice for sin. Through Jesus, God has provided forgiveness for us. In Christ, we can always trust that the Lord will provide.
Discussion Questions
1. What does this story teach us about Abraham’s faith? (see Hebrews 11:17–19)
2. What does it teach us about God?
3. How does this story point us to Jesus?
Ideas for Younger Kids
- Read “The Present” in The Jesus Storybook Bible (pages 62–69).
Memorization: “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19)
Song: Listen to “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” (Matt Papa & Matt Boswell).
Pray Together
Focus your prayer time together on the following areas:
- Praise the Lord that he did not spare his own Son but has given him up for us and our salvation.
- Confess before God our lack of faith in his promises and his provision.
- Pray that God would give us an ever-growing faith in his promises.
Go Together
- Discuss together in what areas you are tempted to doubt God’s promises. Remember and reflect on Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” In Christ, we can be assured that God will keep all his promises to us. Discuss some of these promises and how you can grow in your trust that God will keep them.