Part 3 – God Will Provide
Leader Guide
After God had fulfilled His promise to Abraham of giving him a son in his old age, God asks him to sacrifice this child of promise. Through this story we learn that, though testing is difficult and does not make sense, we can trust God. In this study, let’s learn how to be faithful when tested.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What is a test or challenge you’ve faced recently that you're proud of overcoming?
2. Expect to be tested. Read Genesis 22:1. How does God initiate the test? What does Abraham's response signify? What is your typical response to God? Read 1 Peter 1:13. How can you prepare your mind to be tested?
Leader’s Note: God first calls Abraham by name before giving him an assignment. In fact, God had been talking to Abraham for years, leading him, fulfilling His promises to him. Abraham’s response of “Here I am” means more than just Abraham’s presence. It means that he is ready to be obedient. It’s his recognition of God’s authority over him. It is the state of his heart. One way to prepare yourself for testing is to keep a log of how God has revealed Himself and come through in the past.
3. Learn to trust God’s nature. Read Genesis 22:2-3. How can knowing God’s character answer many of our questions about scripture? How can our experience of God (in the past) help us during uncertain or confusing times?
Leader’s Note: God’s nature is consistent. For example, God’s promises to be with Abraham and give him a son had come true. Further, God had promised that through this child, Abraham would become the father of nations, and that his seed / offspring would bless the whole world. Abraham trusted God’s promises, even though he didn’t understand.
4. Learn to worship during the test. Read Genesis 22:4-5 and 1 Peter 4:12. How does Abraham embrace the test? What tells you that Abraham was trusting God? How have you experienced the act of worship changing your heart in the middle of a situation?
Leader’s Note: Abraham chooses to worship. He also states that he will come back with the boy. If we are not surprised by trials and testing, we can more readily and quickly begin to worship instead of questioning God.
5. Remember the rewards. Read 1 Peter 4:13-14. How can you rejoice amid trouble? What do you think “sharing in Christ’s suffering” means? (If you have time, read Philippians 3:8-11 for another passage on sharing the sufferings of Christ.) What reward do you receive for even slight insults for Jesus’ sake?
Leader’s Note: We can rejoice because through our testing, God will receive glory. We too will be blessed, covered with His glory and His Spirit, even for the smallest insults—if they are for our faith in Jesus. In the Philippians passage, Paul further explains that he wants to know Christ so well that he even understands and experiences His suffering, even to death and eternal resurrection. He wants to know and experience all of Christ.
6. Trust God Himself to provide. Read Genesis 22:7-11. How can Abraham be so confident that God will provide? Read Hebrews 11:17-19. What does this passage say Abraham was thinking as he prepared to offer his son? Finally, how did God provide for Himself a sacrifice, both in this case and for us? Read Genesis 22:13-14. How does this relate to our salvation? Read John 1:29.
Leader’s Note: When Isaac begins to question, Abraham does not. He is confident that even if Isaac is sacrificed, God will provide for him. Hebrews explains that Abraham felt God might even raise Isaac from the dead if there was no replacement sacrifice. And God DID provide a replacement for Isaac and for our sin, in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
7. Lean into the test. Read Genesis 22:15-18 and 1 Peter 1:7. How did Abraham’s test benefit him? Benefit us? How does Peter encourage us when we are going through a time of testing? What is “precious”?
Leader’s Note: God’s promises are reconfirmed and enlarged, and God even swears upon His own self: “By myself I have sworn.” He gives us the promise of the coming Messiah. Through Abraham’s lineage all the nations of the earth will be blessed because of his faith and obedience. Tested, genuine faith is precious and helps us pass the next test and continue to grow in our faith. Most importantly, your faith results in glory and honor to the Lord Jesus, the purpose our lives.
8. Action Step: Reread Genesis 22:4-5. Don’t walk alone. Who are you walking with? Who is supporting you in your testing? Who are you supporting? This is a crucial aspect of the Christian life.