The Beginning of Wisdom: Week 2


Know: He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’ (Genesis 22:12)

Consider: This week’s key verse lands us right in the culminating action of Abraham’s obedience to surrender his only son. Talk about withholding nothing! Let’s go back and give a little context for how Abraham got to this point.

Abraham received a promise from God in Genesis 17:4, where God tells him he will be the father of a multitude of nations. In Genesis 17:6 God goes on to tell Abraham that he and his wife Sarah (who is past child bearing age) will have a son and that his name will be Isaac. Doubly incredible— but with God, WHOLLY possible!

Now let’s jump to Genesis 22 as God calls Abraham to surrender his only son. God tells Abraham to take Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering on Mt. Moriah. Now how does that make sense? God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac – the very fulfillment of His promise. Ultimately we see that God provided a ram instead and Abraham was not required to sacrifice his son. Would you consider that this story is a foreshadow of what was to come?

We see in the New Testament that our God sacrifices His one and only Son, Jesus, when He sends Him to the cross. Can you see the picture that God gave us in Abraham? There would come a day when He would sacrifice His Son- for us. Take a moment to think about that reality and journal a prayer of thanksgiving.

Consider three things this week as we study together: 1) It is okay for us not to understand the “why” behind what the Lord asks of us 2) God Himself is present with us as we walk this road of surrender and 3) He did not withhold His one and only Son from us.

How can we offer our all back to Him?

Key Concept: [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][tweetthis]Surrender is most often a daily process, not a one time choice. Take the next step today![/tweetthis]

Faith over Fear Challenge: Take your journal and offer a prayer to God. Ask Him to show you what areas/things you are afraid to surrender. If you feel so lea, offer those things back to Him. He will be faithful to meet you in that place. Lord, we are afraid to surrender it all to You! You are our Helper! Help us face our fears and rely solely on You!

 

Questions for Discussing & Journaling:

  1. Why is it significant that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? (Remember the promise God had given Abraham in Genesis 17.)
  2. What greater story in the New Testament does this story point us toward?
  3. What is the Lord bringing to mind that you may have withheld from Him?
  4. What would surrender look like? Is it a move? A stressful situation? A relationship? A house? Time? What is THE thing you cannot imagine surrendering to Him?.
  5. What would “trusting” Him fully as His daughter look like in your life today? How can we practically jump into His arms just like that little girl that jumps into the arms of her loving daddy?

Bible Memory & Daily Homework:

Day 1: This week try writing the memory verse, Genesis 22:12, on a 4×6 notecard, seal it in a ziplock bag, and place it in the shower where you can use it for meditation and memorization while you shower.

Day 2: “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?” (Romans 8:32) What are we afraid to lose if we surrender our all to Him? How can this promise bring comfort to our heart? Take some time to engage with the Lord over His sacrifice of His Son for us. How should that shape our response to Him?

Day 3: Spend some time reading Genesis 22:1-12. Take your journal and write down every step in the surrender process that Abraham had to take. Ex. He rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, etc. Write down each and every step that you see. Abraham said YES to God, and it required many more “yeses” in the process. How can you see surrender as a process in your own heart and life? Is there anything that requires a daily offering to Him?

Day 4: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) God is not calling us to abstract surrender. He is calling us to a concrete offering to Him- our loving, faithful Creator. It is concrete because He invites us to KNOW Him. What can we learn from these verses about what we are surrendering TO? What do we gain? When we surrender our burden, what do we take of the Lord’s instead?

Day 5: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20) Often times we hold back because we are placing our hope somewhere other than Jesus. Where do these verses say we can find our hope? How would a “soul anchored” in Jesus be more able to fully surrender? What is anchoring your soul today?

Creative Component: Add in a few “SURRENDERS” to your next workout. For the surrender exercise, begin in a squat position with toes facing forward and arms lifted overhead. “SURRENDER” by taking your right knee down to the mat, followed by the left knee with arms remaining overhead. Go back to the starting position. Do 5-10 reps, alternating the starting knee.

Submitted by Morgan Spivey

Chime in and comment below: What kind of things might God ask YOU to surrender and why?

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