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Welcome back! I hope you’ve had a chance to connect with Genesis 22 in a meaningful way this past week.

As I prayed over my huh?s and “wow!”s from last week, the Spirit drew me directly to verse 8, which made me question how Abraham knew God would provide the lamb and also marvel that his response to Isaac’s question wasn’t completely candid. I also connected with verse 14, especially the phrase on the mount of the LORD it shall be provided. I can’t help but be amazed at how both these verses also connect to our series topic (the names of God)!

 Last Week’s Work

Here’s what I discovered as I focused on the setting of our study verses.

WHO (CHARACTERS)

I noticed four key players:

• God: who tested Abraham and
  told him to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice in Moriah.
• Abraham: father of Isaac;
  left early for Moriah with Isaac and wood for offering;
  took Isaac alone up the mountain to worship, telling the young men with them both he and Isaac would return;
  told Isaac God would provide the sacrificial lamb;
  built altar, arranged wood, bound Isaac, and got ready to kill him;
  heard the angel’s call;
  saw the ram and offered it instead;
  named the place the LORD will provide;
  was promised countless, successful offspring through whom all nations would be blessed;
  returned to young men and settled in Beersheba.
• Isaac: only son of Abraham;
  went along to sacrifice;
  questioned absence of sacrificial lamb;
  was spared when the angel commanded Abraham to stop.
• Angel: who called to Abraham, told him to stop;
  then relayed God’s promises of multiple, successful offspring
  through whom all nations would be blessed.

As I considered these characters’ interactions, I was reminded of my observation last week that God only spoke to Abraham when he was alone, and an angel directed Abraham when he was in the presence of others. I think that’s significant, and I hope, as this study progresses, the Spirit will help me really understand that significance!

WHERE (LOCATION)

This story begins with Abraham living in the land of the Philistines. He’s directed by God to go to the land of Moriah to sacrifice his only son on a mountain there. After Abraham passes the test, he sees a ram caught in a thicket on the mountain and sacrifices the ram instead. Abraham subsequently names the place of the sacrifice the LORD will provide. And after this episode, Abraham relocated to Beersheba.

WHEN (TIME FRAMES)

I noticed two specific timeframes in this passage:

• Early in the morning (when Abraham left home and traveled to Moriah); and
• On the third day of the journey (when the place God designated for Isaac’s sacrifice finally came into view). Seems to me that’s a long way to go and a long time to think about what Abraham knew he’d be giving up when they reached their destination!.

Dig-In Challenges

Here’s my plan for this week (feel free to work along with me if you like!):

1. PRAY the prayer I wrote last week before I study. Then I’ll…
2. MINE: Look for repeated words or phrases in this passage and check for synonyms or pronouns that refer to the same concepts.
3. MINE: Locate any special statements (blessings, commands, curses, prayers, promises, requests, and/or warnings) in the passage.
4. MINE: Note any lists (3 or more similar items) mentioned in Genesis 22:1-19.
5. Record what the Spirit prompts so I can use it in Steps 4 and 5.

Remember, you can download this printable summary of the DISO process for more specific instructions.

I’ll share what I discover with you next week, so I hope you’ll join me then.

GO TO WEEK 4 >