Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Studies Blog

Faith tested.

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::This was the Sunday School lesson I taught today.::

Scripture passage: Genesis 22:1-12

Starter questions:

Why do we test a person? (To see what they'll do, because we don't know and want to find out. This is for our benefit.)
Does God test us? (Yes.)
Why would God test a person? (For our benefit, not His.)

Unthinkable Command

1. Severe Test - Genesis 22:1-2

Tests of faith may involve things that: defy logic; come in the form of a challenge or command; we find almost impossible to accept or obey; happen suddenly and unexpectedly.
Genesis 22:1 - There is no doubt as to God's intent, which is to test Abraham.
Genesis 22:2 - This verse underscores the severity of the command God gave Abraham.
God had tested Abraham before by asking him to leave family and native land, asking Abraham to trust him during famine, and making him wait a very long time before fulfilling his promised son Isaac.
Abraham is listed in the "Faith Chapter" in Hebrews. Do you think all this testing had anything to do with him being considered a hero of faith?
This latest test was extremely severe, in that Isaac was the result of another test of faith, and the only hope for the promise God had made to him about being made a great nation. It seemed to conflict with God's own plan.

2. Prompt Obedience - Genesis 22:3-5

Q. How did Abraham respond to God's test? (He obeyed God promptly)
Q. How did Abraham approach the test? (He brought along what was necessary to carry out the command to sacrifice Isaac, i.e. he obeyed fully and not half-heartedly)
Abraham shows us trust in the very God asking him to do something difficult, trust even when not understanding God's test

Withholding Nothing

1. Faith in God - Genesis 22:6-8

Q. Abraham was ready to do what God asked. What does verse eight tell us? (He still trusted God that even though he was ready and had a sacrifice -- Isaac -- he believed God would provide something else.)
Hebrews 11:17 - Abraham's conviction was faith
Hebrews 11:18 - He based his conviction on God's earlier promise of a son.
Hebrews 11:19 - He knew that God could raise Isaac from the dead.
Abraham displayed something interesting about tests of faith: Working our way through a test of faith requires faith in God.

2. Willing to Obey - Genesis 22:9-12

Q. How is obedience linked to faith? (We demonstrate our faith by obeying.)
Q. What does faith look like? When does it become apparent? (Faith is obedience. It becomes apparent in the face of what looks like an impossible or illogical situation.)
Q. What about disobedience? How does that affect our faith? Why might God want us to obey Him? (Obedience builds our faith in God and brings us closer; disobedience hurts and weakens us, creating distance.)
Q. What do our actions have to do with faith? (Abraham's actions in Genesis 22:9 showed his faith.)
Q. How does what we do affect our own faith? How does it affect how people see our faith?
Faith requires action, and our action requires faith; it is a circular relationship, both building on each other.
James 2:20 - Without action that displays confidence in God, our faith is dead.
Q. What is the "fear of God" (Genesis 22:12), and what does that have to do with faith? (It is an awe or respect of God. We obey and hold nothing back because of it.)

Summation: So, then, why does God test believers?

Job 23:10 - Trials purify, like heat purifies gold.
Psalm 119:71 - Trials teach us.
James 1:2-4 - Trials develop character.
1 Peter 1:6-7 - Trials prove the genuineness of our faith.

Our class discussion: We talked about how the word "faith" has so many meanings, and how if we think of it as mere belief or something inward and personal, a test of faith requiring action might present a huge problem. Generally, our discussion was about the difficulties of facing trials when they are actually happening to you, and how it takes faith to believe that the command/request/direction you think you should obey is really what you heard and is from God.

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The material for this lesson came from the Assembly of God Radiant Life Adult Sunday School lesson guide for Sept/Oct/Nov, 2007. This is presented in a much shorter version than the full lesson provided in the guide so as to allow for more discussion and to fit the time allotted for the class.