Abraham Offers Isaac

1. We must be willing to give up the things that mean the most to us
   

Vocabulary:    sacrifice: to give something up

Prayer: Father, please help us remember that you gave us everything and it is still yours

Activity:
ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - WILL YOU DO IT?  GAME

Have the children line up in a horizontal line across the back of the room.  This game is similar to Mother-May-I.  Instead of taking turns all the children listen to your question and respond with, "Yes, I do".  You then issue the command and they all may respond.  In this game everyone will be a winner when they reach you.  (Adjust the commands according to your room size, so that they can reach you by the time you've finished asking the questions.)

1.  Mother asks you to turn the TV off.  Will you get up and do it without saying, "wait"?  (You may take 3 baby steps forward)
2.  Teacher asks you to stop talking in class when she's talking.  Will you stop talking?  (You may take 4 little hops forward)
3.  Big brother asks you not to play in his room while he is at school.  Will you stay out of his room?   (You may take 1 giant step forward)
4.  Grandmother tells you eating cookie dough is bad for you.  Will you keep your fingers out of the mixing bowl when she's not looking?  (You may take 2 scissor steps forward)
5.  Daddy tells you to come straight home from school and not stop for any reason.  Will you go straight home even though your friend calls from his house to come see his new kittens?  (You may take 3 side-winder steps forward)

Remind the boys and girls that often we have to obey even though we can't understand the reason for it. Only Jesus can help us do that.  When someone asks you to do something and you feel like saying, "no" say a prayer for Jesus to help you.

Discussion: Think about the thing you have that you treasure the most. Is it a toy? A picture? Is it your Mom or Dad? Now imagine having to give up that thing. Imagine seeing it destroyed. How does that make you feel? God knows how that feels. He gave up the thing most precious to him so that evil people could destroy it. What was it? His son. God was asking Abraham if he was willing to be like God and see his precious son destroyed. Are we like God? Are we willing to sacrifice like he has?

Activity: Review the family tree. Have the students use generic paper people (like Bible Friends) to illustrate the lesson. Name them and post them on a board, using yarn or dots to connect the family lines.

1. Isaac was the son of promise.   T
2. Abraham refused to obey God.   F
3. Abraham believed God could still keep his promise.  T
4. God made Abraham complete the sacrifice.   F
5. God provided an animal for the sacrifice.  T

• Genesis 22:12b "now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me."

1. What does Isaac mean?   laughter
2. What is a sacrifice? to give up something
3. Name the people in this lesson? God, Abraham, Isaac

1. Draw a quick picture of a sheep.
2. Act out the voice telling Abraham to stop.
3. Act out the verse: Gen. 22:6 "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together."

1. How do you think Abraham felt about this command? confused, sorrowful
2. How do you think Isaac felt when Abraham put him on the altar? worried, sad
3. How do you think God felt when Abraham obeyed him? pleased, loved

1. What might I have to give up in this life? money, friendships, time
2. Would God command us to do things that break his promises? If it seems that way, it's only because he can fulfill his promise in ways we don't understand.
3. Does God ask us to do more than he has done? never
 

1. What were the names of Abraham's sons? Isaac and Ishmael
2. Where did Abraham take Isaac? to the mountain
3. What did God provide for the sacrifice? a ram

1. Why did God ask Abraham to do this? to see how strong his faith was
2. Do you think Abraham's faith was stronger or weaker after this? stronger
3. How does God make us stronger? by helping us through harder and harder trials