ABRAHAM MAKES AN OFFERING
LESSON FOR THE JUNIOR CLASSES
STUDY SCRIPTURE:
GENESIS 22 : 1- 14
Key Verse
“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen”.
Genesis 22: 14
INTRODUCTION
What is the most valuable thing in your life? What is the prized thing, the things above all others you would love to achieve? Which relationship is the most important for you?
Abraham faced those questions among others and he decided that God was the most important being in his life. He would obey God’s commands promptly even if it caused him pain and sorrow. He knew God was most gracious to him and had promised him he would have a son long after he and his wife had passed child-bearing age. God had always kept His promises. God had promised Abraham he would be great and the father of many nations. His descendants would be so large they would be more in number than the sand of the sea. So, Abraham could not quite understand why God had called him to do the most painful thing he could ever imagine. That was to sacrifice his son that he loved. But how could God make him a great nation with a lot of descendants if he would now have to kill his only son? It did not seem to make senses. But Abraham knew God stressed in His command that he should kill on the altar of sacrifice this only son, the son Abraham loved. And so we know that this command was intended to test Abraham’s love for God and show Abraham loved God above all in his family. Remember Jesus warned us, “He that loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me”.
Abraham knew that even though Moses had not been born and had not written down the Ten Commandments which stated we should love God with all our heart, our soul, and our might.
We know that all the Commandments of God had been taught to Adam and Eve when they were created and that Moses’ main job was to remind those people that believed in God that God’s Laws and Commandments had always existed and could not be changed.
We note sadly that many people like to change the Laws and Commandments of God in order to suit themselves and allow them to do as they pleased even if they displeased God. This misbehaviour is getting worse and worse. But we should not behave as these lawless people.
But Abraham had faith in God. He would not challenge God’s orders. He took Isaac up to Mount Moriah a trip that took three days. Abraham must have cried during that trip many times for he loved his son and did not know why God would require he kill his only son God had promised to him and his wife Sarah.
When Abraham and Isaac reached the place for the sacrifice Abraham grabbed Isaac, tied him up and put him on the altar. Surprisingly Isaac did not resist his father and he seemed to face certain death without worry. He knew that was what God wanted.
But when Abraham lifted up the knife to kill his beloved son an angel of God called out to Abraham and stopped him. God then said to Abraham that now He knew that Abraham was most obedient, loved God to the maximum, and had great faith in God.
The angel showed a ram caught in the bush and told Abraham to offer that ram as a sacrifice to God instead of his son.
You can hardly imagine Abraham’s relief and his joy at how God worked everything out!
So, our lesson is to trust God completely even if He asks us to do things that look impossible and that makes no sense. God knows everything. Sometimes God tests us to see if we really are obedient and know God loves us and would never force us to do things that will harm us.
God always has a plan and that plan is perfect. Even if we have to obey God and the results are results we do not like and are unpleasant God will still be with us and will carry us forward to the perfect solution. But we have to encourage each other and help each other, for sometimes God’s instructions are very demanding. So follow Abraham’s example and make your offering to God and to Him alone. Remember God loves you. He has reserved your place in heaven to be with Him even when you die. He has guaranteed eternal life for you and has a place of pleasure and blessing for you.