This week's broadcast focused on the early parts of Biblical history, with special emphasis on the reality that the introduction of sin into the human race brought death (literally, and spiritual death) to the human race. But the emphasis of the broadcast is not that we are a creation doomed to die, but that, even in the early days of our lineage, God began to take us on the journey from death, back to life.
It is best illustrated in the example of the story of Abraham and Isaac, where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, Isaac, out of what seemed an strange command from God.
1) As you watched that part of the broadcast tonight, did you find yourself identifying with anyone? If so, whom? and why?
Take a moment to read Genesis 22:1-19 (you can click on the reference and read the scripture from the New Living Translation).
2) Why do you think God was so specific in verse 2 when he told Abraham, "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much..."?
3) Read verses 9 and 10 again. How do you think Abraham was feeling in these verses? How do you think Isaac was feeling?
4) Read verses 10-13. How do you think Isaac was feeling as he watched the lamb being slaughtered in his place?
5) Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT) says: "It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead." Isaac lived many years after this experience on Mount Moriah. How do you think this experience impacted his latter life?
6) Does this story reflect your experience in any way? If so, how?
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