god provides

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GOD PROVIDES

Genesis 22 | Week of February 28

God knew that his Great Rescue Plan could only work if Abraham, the

leader of God’s chosen family, trusted him completely. God wanted to make sure Abraham would do whatever God commanded.

Abraham liked to give presents to God. Sometimes he gave animals

to God that he called “sacrifices” as a way to tell God, “I love you.” So one day, God asked Abraham to give him something more than an animal. He asked for Abraham’s only son—Isaac.

How could God ask Abraham to do such a terrible thing? Abraham

didn’t understand, but he knew God loved him. So he trusted God and headed up a steep mountain to offer God his only son. Isaac carried the wood on his back while Abraham carried the knife and the coals.

Isaac noticed that something wasn’t right and asked his dad, “Where

is the lamb?” Abraham replied, “God will give us the lamb, son.”

So Abraham and Isaac built an altar. Then Abraham asked Isaac to

climb on top before tying his only son to it. Isaac didn’t struggle or try to run away. He just laid there quietly while Abraham grasped the knife. Everything was ready, and Abraham started to cry. Pain filled his eyes, and his hands shook. But he lifted the knife high in the air—

“Stop!” God said. “Don’t hurt the boy. I want him to live and not die.

I know now that you love me because you were willing to give me your only son.” Abraham and Isaac wept with joy. He untied his son and they hugged for a long time.

Suddenly, Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket. This was the

animal Abraham had believed God would provide, and it arrived just in time. The ram would die so Isaac didn’t have to.

This was another way for God to show just how much he loved his

people. One day, God would give the whole world a Great Present of his own by sending his own Son to die so we wouldn’t have to. uhbc.net/jesusisbetter