YEA Lesson Library

The Lesson

When Abram was 99 years old God prepared a contract between the two of them that promised multitudes of nations from Abram's descendants. Abram immediately worshiped God. How would you feel if God appeared to you and said, "When you get married, I'll give you a son that will have so many descendants who will form many nations”? What a promise!

God changed Abram's name to Abraham (Father of Nations), and Sarai to Sarah (Princess). God said, "I will give you millions of descendants who will form many nations! Kings shall be among your descendants! And I will continue this agreement between us generation after generation, forever, for it shall be between me and your children as well. . .”

“‘Your part of the contract,’ God told him, 'is to obey its terms. You personally and all your posterity have this continual responsibility: that every male among you shall be circumcised. . .’”

God promised to give 90 year-old Sarah a son. Abraham was 100. As he worshiped God, he laughed inside with disbelief. He said to God, "Yes, do bless Ishmael!" Ishmael was the son Abraham had with Hagar. But this wasn't what God had in mind at all. He never intended that his ultimate blessings flow through an illegitimate son. God is not limited by a man or woman's age when He sets out to do something. He had found his man with whom to make this National Contract that would last forever. God was ready to take a very important step and nothing is too difficult for Him. He promised to bless Ishmael with 12 princes but assured Abraham that his National Contract would be with a son, born to him and Sarah, whose name would be Isaac.

That very day Abraham took Ishmael and every other male who was born in his household and circumcised them. This was a painful necessity for Abraham to complete his part of this National Contract.

While Sarah prepared a meal she listened to what this important guest was telling Abraham. The Lord said, "Next year I will give you and Sarah a son!" Sarah was way past childbearing years so
she laughed silently. And then she denied that she had laughed. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, which means laughter.

God was ready to test Abraham. He said, "Take with you your only son - yes, Isaac whom you love so much - and go to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I'lI point out to you!” This is the greatest test a father can have. What do you think went through Abraham's mind? He had waited 100 years to have this promised son and now God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. How could God make of him "many nations" if Abraham killed him? What would you have done?

"The next morning Abraham got up early, chopped wood for a fire upon the altar, saddled his donkey, and took with him his son Isaac and two young men who were his servants, and started off to the place where God had told him to go. On the third day of the journey Abraham saw the place in the distance.

“'Stay here with the donkey,' Abraham told the young men, ‘and the lad and I will travel yonder and worship, and then come right back.' Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering upon Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the flint for striking a fire" (Genesis 22:3-6, TLB). Isaac knew that lambs were generally used for sacrificing. They had everything but a lamb. So he asked his father where it was, and he said, "God will see to it, my son." Abraham built an altar, placed the wood on it, and then tied his son and laid him on the altar. Then he took the knife and had it ready to slay his son of promise.

"At that moment the Angel of God shouted to him from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham! Lay down the knife; don't hurt the lad." Then Abraham noticed a ram caught in the bushes and he offered it as a sacrifice rather than his only son.This was high drama! Can you comprehend how Abraham and Isaac must have felt? What a remarkable man Abraham was! He trusted God completely. Why was he willing to do this? He knew God is a God of love and mercy and One who keeps His promises. "He believed that if Isaac died, God would bring him back to life again . . ." (Hebrews 11:19). What a relationship Abraham had with God! Think of the benefits from truly knowing God.

Where are those descendants - those many nations today that God promised Abraham would come from Isaac? They are somewhere on this earth today. Are you one of them? What kind of responsibility does that place on you to be like your father Abraham in faith and obedience? What difference will that kind of faith and obedience make in your life? Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord - I do not change." He promises to be swift and certain to punish wicked men, adulterers, liars, those who cheat their hired help, or oppress widows and orphans, or defraud strangers. He also promises to bless those who obey Him as He blessed Abraham. Do you want punishment or blessings? The choice is yours.