English Language Bible Study Guide for January 31, 2008
Genesis 22
A. The Testing of Abraham’s Faith (1-10)
1: God never “tempts” anyone to sin (James 1:13)
2: Isaac was the only son that counted in the house of Abraham
3: Abraham rose early to begin a most difficult job
5: Confidently Abraham expected that both he and Isaac would return from worship
6-7: Abraham appeared fully prepared; but Isaac noticed that the sacrificial animal itself was missing
8: Abraham trusts that God will provide a lamb
10: Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his son
B. The Victory of Abraham’s Faith (11-14)
12: The Lord interrupted the motion that would end Isaac’s life; and He announced that Abraham had passed the test with flying colors
13: Abraham sees that the Lord had indeed provided himself a lamb for the sacrifice
14: Abraham’s name for the place would ever be Jehovahjireh
C. The Reward of Abraham’s Faith (15-19)
15: When the Lord speaks a second time, it is to set a “gold sticker” onto Abraham’s report card
16: The Lord “swears” to tell the truth
17: The promise of innumerable descendants is repeated
D. The Successor with Abraham’s Faith (20-24)
Someone, at some time later, brings Abraham news of the brother he had left back home
Meditation Points:
- Job was tested severely, but he had no choice in the death of his children; Abraham was asked not only to consent to the death of his beloved son, he was asked to be the instrument of that death.
- Abraham believed either that God would prevent the sacrifice or that God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill His covenant.
- God did provide a lamb for the sacrifice then–and God provided the Lamb for the sacrifice at Calvary.
- The chapter break which we observe in English might better have been placed before verse 20 for the first 19 verses stand together; and the last 5 which announce the birth of Rebekah, the future bride of Isaac, go better with the events of chapters 23 and 24.
Genesis 23
Sarah dies, and Abraham secures a burial place for her.
1: Sarah is the only woman whose age (127) is recorded in the Bible.
2: Even the most faithful, the most severely tested, may mourn
3-4: Abraham declares his desire to procure a burial place for his wife
5-6: His neighbors kindly offer him the choice of any of their sepulchres
7-9: Abraham appreciates their offer, but asks that instead they arrange for the sale of the cave of Machpelah
10-11: The owner of the cave offers the property for free
12-13: Abraham insists upon paying for the cave
14-15: A value of 400 silver shekels is set forth
16-18: Abraham pays the agreed upon sum, in the presence of many witnesses; and he secures ownership of the property for generations to come
19-20: With ownership of the land duly transferred to Abraham, then he proceeds to bury Sarah
Meditation Points:
- Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born, and she was 127 when she died. That would make Isaac 37 years old at her death. Rebekah (22:23), granddaughter of Isaac’s uncle, would most likely be of a similar age.
- Abraham mourned for Sarah. Sorrow without sin, not as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
- Abraham was highly regarded by his neighbors.
- Abraham’s almost rude insistence upon paying for the burial ground is a puzzle. Perhaps we should remember that Abraham also refused reward from the king of Sodom lest the king say that he had made Abraham rich (Genesis 14:22-23). Elijah may take nourishment from the unclean birds, but no believer wants the unsaved to glory in doing God’s job of caring for His child.
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