YEA Lesson Library
Passed the Test!
About This Lesson
This lesson uses the story of Abraham’s obedience to God to sacrifice Isaac to teach the student that we should always trust God, put Him first, and show our love to Him by our obedience.
Scriptures
Genesis 22:1-19
Psalm 27:13-14
Isaiah 53:3-7
Galatians 3:6-9
Hebrews 7:25-27
Hebrews 11:17,19
Hebrews 11:17-19
James 2:17-22
1 Peter 1:6-8
Words to Know
CONVERSATION- talking with another person or other people
DIRECT COMMAND - told to do something in exact words
The Lesson
Mr. Collins came into the room with a stack of test papers. "Oh no," thought Jeremy, "I forgot today was test day." Mr. Collins passed out the papers. He told the students they had twenty minutes to complete the test. It would cover the material in chapter five of their textbook. The first question showed Jeremy that he should have studied! What a terrible feeling - to be faced with a test for which you are not prepared.
When Abraham was one hundred years old, God finally gave a son to him and Sarah. Isaac was the joy of their life. He brought laughter to their home. He fulfilled God's promise. He was the hope of their future. Abraham and Sarah were very thankful for this special gift.
But now Abraham was facing the hardest test of his life. One day God spoke to Abraham. Now, Abraham was usually excited to hear from God. After all, God had made him some great promises in their conversations. But what God had to say today really troubled Abraham. God told him to take Isaac, the son that he loved so much, and offer him as a sacrifice.
Why would God ask Abraham to do such a thing? Wasn't Isaac the fulfillment of God's promise? Had Abraham done something wrong? Had he misunderstood God's command? It is hard to imagine what Abraham was thinking. What should he do?
But, God was not punishing Abraham. Abraham had heard God correctly. This was a test. Would Abraham trust God? Would he obey, even if it would hurt? Would Abraham be willing to give his son, Isaac, to God? How Abraham handled this test would prove how much he loved God. It would count for all eternity.
Sadly, the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey. Isaac must have wondered why Abraham looked so sad. Offering time was usually a time of thanksgiving. But, he went quietly with his father to Mt. Moriah. When they arrived, Abraham told his two young servants to wait with the donkey. He said he and Isaac were going to worship and would come back again.
Abraham knew God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Yes, he would obey God. But, Abraham was not afraid. He was not worried. Why? Don't you imagine that Abraham had been talking to God on the trip to Mt. Moriah? He may have asked God why he had to do this. He may have asked God to provide another sacrifice - we don’t know. But what we do know is that when they arrived, Abraham decided to trust God. He would obey. He believed that God was even able to bring Isaac back to life again!
Up the mountain went Abraham and Isaac. They built an altar out of stones. They laid wood on the altar. Then Isaac spoke up, "The fire and wood are here... but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7 NIrV). Abraham told Isaac that God would provide one.
Abraham laid his son on the altar and raised a knife to kill his son. "At that moment the Angel of God shouted to him from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham!' "Yes, Lord! he answered. 'Lay down the knife; don't hurt the lad in any way,’ the angel said, ‘for I know that God is first in your life - you have not withheld even your beloved son from me.’" God Himself provided the ram that was in the bushes for the burnt offering. God told Abraham that he had Passed the Test! Abraham proved that he loved God more than anything else.
You will probably never have to face a test like Abraham's. But, every day you face smaller tests that will prove how much you love God. Are you willing to obey God when He gives you a direct command? When He says you should honor your father and mother, do you obey? When he says not to misuse the name of the Lord, do you ignore Him? When He tells you to honor the Lord on the Sabbath, do you attend Sabbath services? What about stealing and lying - will you Pass the Test?
There will come a time when you will have to stand up for what you believe. How will you react when someone makes fun of you for not keeping Christmas or Halloween? When you are asked why you worship on the Sabbath, what will you say? If you are dared to do something you know you shouldn't, how will you respond? Will you stand up for God ? Will you Pass the Test?
Student Prayer
Dear Lord, My Teacher,
When I am faced with tests, help me be like Abraham. He had faith and obeyed your command - even when it meant he might lose his son. Teach me to trust you to do only those things that are for my own good.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - James 2:17-22
Monday- I Peter 1:6-8
Tuesday- Psalm 27:13-14
Wednesday - Galatians 3:6-9
Thursday - Isaiah 53:4-5
Friday - Hebrews 7:25-27
Saturday- Hebrews 11:17-19
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Explain whyGod asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.
2. State that Abraham trusted God to bring Isaac back to life, if need be.
3. Tell what God sent as a substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac.
4. State that Abraham's faith in God proved that he Passed the Test.
Topics & Themes
Abraham
God’s Commands
God’s Gifts
God’s Plan
God’s Promise
God’s Provision
Isaac
Loving God
Obedience
Putting God First
Sacrifice and Offerings to
God
Test
Trusting God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, attendance and memory verse chart, stars, songbook, cassette/CD player and music tape or CD
Preparation
Junior-aged students are familiar with tests in school. The teacher gives a test to see how well the students understand and can apply the lessons being taught. It is a means of grading their achievement. If a student is to pass the test, he must pay close attention to the teacher, study the textbook and answer honestly.
As in Abraham's case, God sometimes puts our faith to the test. It is His way of revealing to us whether our faith is strong or weak. If we are to pass this test, we must pay close attention to Jesus, the great Teacher, we must study His textbook, the Bible, and honestly do what He commands. Everyone has bad days - days when our grade would be an "F" for failure. But we can learn from Abraham to believe God and obey.
Before you come to class, make enough copies of the activity in the student's book for lesson five.
How to Teach This Lesson
As you begin this class, tell the students that the first thing you will be doing today is taking a test. Pass out the Activity sheets and place them face down. Tell the students that this test will determine what grade they will receive for the class. Remind them not to look around at what anyone else has written - that would be cheating. Say: "Okay, ready, be . . . Oh no, this isn't school." Tell them to turn their "test" paper over. They should recognize it as the activity they have already completed.
On a chalkboard or newsprint pad, number from I - 6 corresponding to the tests. Read each one aloud, asking the students to raise their hand if they gave themselves an "A." "B." etc. Write the number of students receiving each grade beside the numbers. Discuss the grades, and how many of the students passed and how many failed (Not who passed or failed).
Troubling Conversation - Abraham had waited until he was one hundred years old for God to fulfill His promise of a son. Isaac was beloved. He brought joy and laughter. He was the hope for future generations. Now God was telling Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Ask: How do you think Abraham felt when he heard God's command? (Allow them to give their opinions.) It meant death! The death of a dream. The death of a hope. The death of a promise? Surely not - God would not and could not lie.
Absolute Trust- Nowhere do we see that Abraham argued with God. Instead, he had confidence that God would either provide a substitute offering, or that if need be, He could raise Isaac up from the dead. Either way, he told the young men that he and Isaac would return to them again. Ask: What do you think gave Abraham such confidence? Abraham knew God and trusted that God would not ask him to do anything that was not in his best interest.
Isaac's Trust - Some scholars state that Isaac was a young man, capable of resisting Abraham's attempt at putting him on the altar. Isaac did ask the question, "Where is the offering?" but he was submissive to God's plan for his life. He trusted his earthly father and His Heavenly Father (See Romans 10:1-3).
God's Provision - When Abraham proved that he loved God more than anything else in the world, God revealed His sacrificial ram in the bushes. The sacrifice was provided, but not revealed until Abraham Passed the Test. (See Isaiah 53:3-7) Ask: How can we compare the ram in the bushes with Jesus as the sacrificial lamb?
Your Tests - James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the man who keeps on going when times are hard. After he has come through them, he will receive a crown. The crown is life itself. God has promised it to those who love him" (NIrV). Will you Pass the Test?
Review Questions
1. Why was God's command to take Isaac up the mountain and make an offering troubling to Abraham?
2. How did Abraham respond to God's command?
3. What question did Isaac ask of his father, Abraham?
4. What was Abraham's reply?
5. What did God send as a substitute sacrifice?
6. What proved that Abraham Passed the Test?
Teacher-Directed Activity
The Activity for this lesson is at the beginning, under How to Teach This Lesson.
REACH Activity
Back to the Bible: A Type
Remember how we started a list in the last lesson to show how Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ? What does that mean - to be a type? It means that there are things in his life which help us to understand Jesus Christ. Jesus was the promised son. He came when God decided the time was right.
This lesson shows some more parallels. Isaac was obedient to his father. Jesus was obedient to the Father. Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice. Jesus carried the cross for His sacrifice. Isaac trusted his father; Jesus trusted God the Father. But because God doesn’t desire us to sacrifice our children, God provided a ram for Abraham’s sacrifice, a parallel because Jesus is the perfect lamb of God.
Add these instances to the list in your Bible. Then discuss with your family the ways Isaac helps us understand Jesus Christ.
Journal Jot: Tested
Deuteronomy 8:2 says that God tested the Israelites coming out of Egypt for 40, so that He would know what was in their hearts. Think about this. When do you really know what a person is like - when things are going well or when things are hard and they are stressed? How does this apply to your own life? Have you ever thought that perhaps God wanted to know if you would praise Him even when things aren’t going well? Write about this topic in your Bible notebook.
Word Study - peirazō
In Hebrews 11:17, we learn that Abraham was tested. This is the word peirazō - and means “to try or to prove.” This word can be used in a positive sense or in a negative sense. It is very important to read the context to help define which sense is being used.
Just Toolin’ Around: Mount Moriah
Using a Bible dictionary, concordance, map reference book, or a Biblical encyclopedia, find out where Mount Moriah is. What did you discover? Are you surprised that this is where it is? Share your findings with your family. What is around Mount Moriah today?
Did you Know? Mount Moriah
According to 2 Chronicles 3:1, Mount Moriah was the location where David was inspired to build an altar. Solomon later built the Temple on that site. Do you think it was a coincidence that Abraham was tested, asked by God to sacrifice Isaac, in the same place that the Israelites would later offer their sacrifices to God (in the Temple)?
Stretch It Out: Drawing
Draw a picture of Abraham and Isaac’s trip to Mount Moriah. It can be one scene or an activity board of several sequential events, i.e. climbing the mountain, building an altar, Isaac on the altar, seeing a ram in the thicket, descending the mountain. Use your favorite color tools to complete the picture. Add this week’s memory verse to the bottom of the page. Display where your family can see it.
Music Notes: Faith of Our Fathers
This hymn is on page 71 of the CEM Hymnal.
The words to this hymn were first written as a tribute to all of the people who were tortured and killed for being Catholic, for helping a priest, or for honoring the pope in England under King Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth I. (Source: Then Sings My Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2004, p. 79.)
The example of our “fathers” - those whose names are written in Hebrews 11 - encourages us to continue striving to do God’s will regardless of the persecution we might face. As you sing this song, pick out the lines which encourage you the most to persevere in your faith to God. Write them in your Bible notebook.
Questions?
Write down any questions you have in your Bible notebook so that you can remember to ask your parents or your pastor.
Song
"Dare To Be A Daniel" is on page 9 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Ask that God will help the students to face the tests of their life with faith in Him and His promises and teach them how to trust Him.
Printable Pages
