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- Did God know about the wickedness of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah?
-Yes.
- If people forget about God, will He forget about them?
-No.
- If people forget about God, will He forget about their sins?
-No.
- Why must God punish every sin?
-Because God is perfect.
-Because God created people perfect.
-Because every sin is against God.
- Why did God not immediately punish the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins?
-Because God wanted them to repent of their sins.
-Because God wanted to save them.
- Why does God not immediately punish people today for their sins?
-Because God wants them to repent of their sins.
-Because God wants to save them.
- Does God only threaten people, but not punish them for their sins?
-No.
-God will punish all sin.
- When it is time for God to punish sinners, can anyone stop God?
-No.
- Just as sin pulled Lot into Sodom, what does sin do to all people?
-Sin pulls people closer and closer to its wickedness.
- How are we like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah?
-We have told many, many lies.
-We have falsely accused other people.
-We have cursed our neighbors.
-We have stolen what belongs to other people.
-We have slept with other men’s wives.
-We have killed others.
- Why did God save Lot?
-Because Lot knew that he had sinned against God.
-Because Lot knew that his sin brings eternal death.
-Because Lot knew that God alone was able to save him.
-Because Lot believed that God would send the Savior to save him.
- Why did God turn Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt?
-Because Lot’s wife disobeyed God, and looked back.
- Why did Lot’s wife look back?
-Because she loved her sin.
-Because she did not want to leave her sin.
-God had promised to give Abraham and Sarah a son.
-Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 years old, yet they still did not have any children.
-Did God forget His promise to give Abraham a son?
-No.
-God cannot forget His promises.
-God always keeps His promises.
-Did God change His mind to give Abraham a son?
-No.
-God cannot change His mind.
-God always does what He says He will do.
-Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 years old and barren.
-Was it too difficult for God to give Abraham and Sarah a son?
-No.
-Nothing is too difficult for God.
-God can do anything.
-Just as God promised, He gave Abraham and Sarah a son.
Let’s read Genesis 21:1-3
1-Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised.
2-Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.
3-Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.
-How were Abraham, who was 100 years old, and Sarah, who was 90 years old and barren, able to have a son?
-Because it is God who gives life.
-Because God can do anything.
-What was the name of the son which God gave to Abraham and Sarah?
-Isaac.
-After many years, Isaac grew to be a strong young man.
-Abraham and Sarah loved Isaac very much.
-Did Abraham know that God planned to bring the Savior through the line of Isaac?
-Yes.
-Abraham remembered God’s promise to bring the Savior through the line of Isaac.
-One day, God spoke to Abraham about Isaac.
Let’s read Genesis 22:1-2
1-Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” Abraham replied.
2-Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
-Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
-God wanted to test Abraham.
-Why did God want to test Abraham?
-God wanted to see if Abraham loved God more than Isaac.
-How could God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
-Because God gave life to Abraham.
-Because God gave life to Isaac.
-Because God is the Lord of all people.
-Does your neighbor tell your wife what to do?
-No.
-Why?
-Because your neighbor is not the lord of your wife.
-Does your neighbor decide how to plant your fields?
-No.
-Why?
-Because your neighbor is not the lord of your fields.
-Who was the Lord of Abraham?
-God.
-Who is the Lord of all people?
-God.
-Because God is the Lord of all people, God can command people to do what He wants.
-When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, what did Abraham do?
Let’s read Genesis 22:3
3-Early the next morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
-Abraham cut wood for the sacrifice, and took Isaac and two of his servants to the place God would show him.
-How could Abraham sacrifice Isaac?
-If Abraham sacrificed Isaac, how would God keep His promises?
-If Abraham sacrificed Isaac, how would God give Abraham many descendants?
-If Abraham sacrificed Isaac, how would God send the Savior as a descendant of Abraham?
-God promised Abraham that Isaac would be the father of many descendants, and that the Savior would be his descendant.
-Did God change His mind?
-No.
-Did God decide to break His promises?
-No.
-Did Abraham think that God had changed His mind?
-No.
-Abraham believed in God and His promises.
-Abraham believed that God would keep His promises.
-Abraham believed that God would keep His promise to give him many descendants.
-Abraham believed that God would keep His promise to send the Savior.
-What did Abraham believe that God would do if he sacrificed Isaac?
-Abraham believed that if he sacrificed Isaac, God would raise Isaac from the dead.
-Abraham’s belief was different from Adam and Eve’s belief.
-In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
-Adam and Eve did not believe God.
-But Abraham believed God.
-Because Abraham believed God, he took Isaac and two of his servants to the place God would show them.
Let’s read Genesis 22:4-6a
4-On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
5-He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6-Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife.
-As Abraham and Isaac walked together, Isaac asked his father a question.
Let’s read Genesis 22:6b-7
6-As the two of them went on together,
7-Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
-What was Isaac’s question?
-“Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?”
-Isaac knew that his father was going to sacrifice.
-Isaac knew that they were taking the fire and the wood.
-Yet Isaac did not understand why they did not take a lamb with them.
-What did Abraham reply to Isaac?
Let’s read Genesis 22:8
8-Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
-What was Abraham’s reply?
-Abraham said that God Himself would provide the lamb.
-Abraham believed that God would provide a sacrifice.
-Believing God is the most important work that we can ever do.
-Just listening to God’s message will not save us.
-We must believe God’s message to be saved.
-Here is an illustration:
-A man who was very sick went to the doctor.
-The doctor looked at the sick man, and told him the sickness which he had.
-Then, the doctor gave to the sick man the medicine that he needed to become healthy again.
-The sick man took the medicine, put the medicine in his pocket, and went back home.
-But, the sick man never swallowed the medicine.
-The sick man had only listened to the doctor.
-He did not swallow the medicine.
-Would the sick man get better?
-No.
-Only listening to God’s message will not save you.
-You must believe God’s message like Abraham.
-If you only listen to God’s message, but do not believe, then you are like Satan.
-If you only listen to God’s message, but do not believe, then you are calling God a liar.
-God only saves those who believe in Him.
-God only saves those who believe His Word.
-Where is God’s Word?
-In God’s Book, the Bible.
-When Abraham and Isaac reached the place God showed them, what happened?
Let’s read Genesis 22:9-10
9-When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10-Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
-What did Abraham do?
-He tied Isaac and laid him on the altar.
-Was Abraham able to save Isaac?
-No.
-Why was Abraham not able to save Isaac?
-Because Abraham had already lifted up his knife to sacrifice Isaac.
-Was Isaac able to save himself?
-No.
-Why was Isaac not able to save himself?
-Because Abraham had tied Isaac’s hands and feet.
-Isaac was not able to escape.
-When God sent the flood, the people who were shut outside of the boat were not able to escape.
-When God sent fire from heaven, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were not able to escape.
-When Lot’s wife looked back to the city of Sodom, she was not able to escape.
-No one is able to escape.
-Who alone was able to save Isaac?
-God.
-Are other people able to save us?
-No.
-Are we able to save ourselves?
-No.
-Who is the only One who is able to save us?
-God.
-God alone saved Noah and his family.
-God alone saved Lot and his two daughters.
-God alone is able to save all people.
-God alone was able to save Isaac.
-Did God save Isaac?
Let’s read Genesis 22:11-12
11-But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” Abraham replied.
12-“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” He said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
-Who spoke to Abraham and saved Isaac?
-God.
-God alone kept Abraham from killing Isaac.
-God alone saved Isaac.
-But Isaac would not be saved unless there was another sacrifice.
-Did Abraham have another sacrifice?
-No.
-Did Isaac have another sacrifice?
-No.
-What did God do?
Let’s read Genesis 22:13
13-Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
-Abraham did not have another sacrifice.
-Isaac did not have another sacrifice.
-Who provided a sacrifice to take Isaac’s place?
-God.
-God alone provided the sacrifice.
-What was the sacrifice God provided?
-A ram.
-Where was the ram?
-Held in a bush by its horns.
-Why was the ram held in the bush by its horns?
-Because God tied up the ram.
-Why did God tie up the ram by its horns?
-Because God would only accept a perfect sacrifice to take the place of Isaac.
-If the ram had been tied up by its head or its feet, then it would have injured itself by trying to free itself.
-God is perfect.
-God will only accept a perfect sacrifice.
-Abraham untied Isaac, and tied the ram which God had provided onto the altar.
-Abraham sacrificed the ram instead of Isaac.
-The ram died instead of Isaac.
-The ram was Isaac’s substitute.
-What did Abraham call the place where God provided the ram?
Let’s read Genesis 22:14-19
14-So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15-The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time
16-and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17-I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
18-and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
19-Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
-Abraham called the place where God provided the ram, “The Lord will provide.”
-Why did Abraham call the place, “The Lord will provide”?
-Abraham believed that just as God provided the ram, God would one day provide the Savior to save people.