Nobody likes exams, let alone the tests life itself brings: illness, crisis, loss. This sermon takes us to Mount Moriah, where Abraham faces the hardest test of faith imaginable, the command to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac (Genesis 22). We discover that God allows trials not to break us but to mature our faith, and that this whole story strikingly foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Listen and learn how to walk through life’s tests trusting God’s promises.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Abraham rises early and sets out without bargaining, even though he had argued with God about Sodom before. What does this difference tell you about his faith at this moment?
- Abraham tells his servants, "we will go and come back to you," and tells Isaac, "God will provide the lamb." How does Hebrews 11 help you understand what Abraham believed as he climbed Mount Moriah?
- The preacher said God allows trials not to find something out, but for our sake, and that He cares more about our holiness than our comfort. How do you respond to that idea in light of your own struggles?
- The sermon said God never promised an easy life, health, or wealth, but promised His love, forgiveness, presence, and eternal life. What false expectations of God do you notice in yourself, and how do they affect your trust?
- The ram offered in Isaac's place points to Jesus, the Lamb of God. How does this connection change the way you see this difficult story and who God is?
- What trial are you facing this week, and how can you specifically trust God and obey Him in it, as Abraham did?
