Abraham and Isaac: Trusting God

Hello Friends,

Happy Belated Fourth of July! Did you do anything exciting to celebrate the 248th Birthday of our Nation? Did you have a cook out? Did you see some fireworks? Did you hold a sparkler? Did you spend time with either family, friends, or your neighbors? Miss Emily and I did some work around the house before we had a cookout with some great friends in the evening!

As we were getting ready to leave for the cookout, Miss Emily and I started thinking: “If this is the 248th Birthday of our Nation, and in 52 more years it will be the 300th Birthday of our Nation, then there is a good chance that we could be alive to celebrate this special milestone.” Some of you reading this post will be around for the 300th Birthday and maybe the 330th Birthday! That blew our minds!! I’m praying that you get to witness this forthcoming magnificent celebration. Let Freedom Ring! And may you always find freedom through Jesus Christ!

Today, we are going to talk about a famous father and son duo in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. We aren’t talking about Isaac and Jacob/Esau. We aren’t talking about David and Solomon. We are going to talk about Abraham and Isaac, and that moment when Abraham took Isaac to the top of the mountain because that is what God needed him to do. Abraham trusted God? Do you trust God?

Who do you trust? Why do you trust that person? Do you trust them because they are your parents, your siblings, your friends, or your teacher? Do you trust them because you are related to them? Do you trust them because you were told to trust them or that it was okay to trust them? Do you trust them because they look trustworthy? Why do you trust the person that you trust?

Today’s Bible lesson about Abraham and Isaac is about trust, and it comes from the Book of Genesis Chapter 22. As I tell you what happened, I need your help. When I put my hand to my ear like this (demonstrate), I want you to say in your most surprised voice, “Say what!?”

Abraham was Isaac’s father. Abraham and his wife Sarah were almost 100 years old when Isaac was born. (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”) And God told Abraham that He was going to have lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren through his son Isaac. Abraham and Sarah waited and waited and waited to have a child: they thought the day would never come. But they continued to believe in God, they continued to pray, and they continued to believe that God doesn’t break promises.

After waiting several years to have a child, Abraham was given an impossible task. One day, God spoke to Abraham and told him to take Isaac up on a mountain and give God the thing that he loved more than anything. (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”) So Abraham took Isaac and they started up the mountain. (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”) 

On the third day, Abraham told Isaac that they were going to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to God. (A sacrifice is somewhat similar to giving a gift: to give something or do something for someone.) Isaac said to his father, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the offering?” (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”) 

Abraham answered Isaac and said, “God will provide the lamb.” They kept walking until they arrived at the place where God had told him to go. Then Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Abraham was ready to give God the thing he loved the most. He was ready to give God his son Isaac. (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”)

Then an angel of the Lord called out to Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me” (Genesis 22:12). Abraham did what the angel commanded. Then Abraham looked and saw a ram caught by his horns in the thicket. (Put your hand to your ear for kids to say, “Say what!?”) So Abraham took the ram and offered it as a sacrifice to God. 

Abraham had faith in God and trusted Him completely — and God provided the lamb — just as Abraham had told Isaac that He would. When we put our trust in God, He always provides. But we must come to learn to trust in God, even when God tells us to do something absurd. To trust in God means to obey Him, follow the ways of Jesus, and not harm others but lead others to Jesus. We are called to trust in God and listen to what He is telling us.

If Abraham was willing to trust God so much that he was going to give God his most valuable possession, then I wonder what God is needing us to do to let Him know that we trust Him?

Let us Pray: Dear God, help us, like Abraham, to trust You fully and have faith that You will provide. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

(Lessons borrowed from https://sermons4kids.com/sermons/abraham-and-isaac)