A Great Test of Love
The Lord came to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your children, and to their children, and it will be their land forever.” Abram built an altar and made an offering to the Lord and worshiped Him.
Another time, God told Abram, “Can you count the stars? Neither will you be able to count your descendants.” Abram believed God would give him many descendants even though he had no children yet. Later God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means father of a multitude. He promised to give Abraham and his wife Sarah a son, a people, and a land. Abraham promised to serve God faithfully.
One day three strangers came to Abraham’s tent door. By this time Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah ninety years old. The strangers told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. Sarah overheard it and laughed to herself, “How can I have a child when I am so old?”
But the men, who were angels sent by God, said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Finally the promised child indeed was born to Abraham and Sarah. They named him Isaac, as the Lord had told them to. They were very happy to have a little boy.
Then one day God said to Abraham, “Take now your only son, whom you love, and go to a mountain which I will show you. Offer him there for a burnt offering.”
Though the command filled Abraham’s heart with pain, he began to obey at once. With two servants and a donkey, Abraham and Isaac started northward.
On the third day, Abraham and young Isaac went up on the mountain by themselves. There Abraham built an altar. He placed the wood in order, tied Isaac, and laid him on it. At last he raised his knife to kill his son.
Just then the angel of the Lord called, “Abraham, do not hurt your son Isaac! Now I know you love God more than your son.” What joy and relief those heavenly words brought to Abraham!
Then Abraham turned and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. How thankful Abraham was to offer the ram instead of his son.
Genesis 15:1-6; 21; 22
Abraham is thankful that he does not have to offer his son.
Parents:
He that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37b)
Children:
1. What does the name Abraham mean?
2. How old was Abraham when Isaac was born?
3. Why do you think God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son?