SENIOR ADULTS SPRING 2018 | LEADER8ef80b58c6ae6b008df1-036eaedec0108d35b1642758b831920a.r94.cf2.… · Romans 10:9-10,13. Invite the person to ... Version but interacts with all major

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GOD IS …

STAND UP: HOW TO FIGHT INJUSTICE

SPRING 2018 | LEADER GUIDE

One of the great joys of leading a group in Bible study is seeing group members deepen their walk with Christ. Everyone’s walk with Christ begins with an initial decision to follow Him in repentance and faith. People may be in your group who have not made that decision yet. Take advantage of your time with them to talk about becoming a Christian.

As you tell your own story about coming to Christ, share these key truths:

1. We are all sinners, and each of us needs to acknowledge before God that we are sinners. That acknowledgement involves repentance, which is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Refer to Romans 3:23; 6:23; and Acts 3:19.

2. The only way a person can receive the gift of forgiveness is by faith in Jesus as God’s Son. Use verses like Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 14:6 when talking about faith in Christ.

3. Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ means confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Share Romans 10:9-10,13.

Invite the person to pray a prayer similar to this:

“Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

A Special Note about “God is Faithful” (pp. 62).

As your group studies and discusses the resurrection, use it as an opportunity to lead unsaved group members to faith in Christ. Use “A Promise That Will Never Be Broken” on the inside front cover of the Personal Study Guide to connect “God is Faithful” with each member’s own need to trust Christ and receive His gift of salvation.

LEADING SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST DECISION OF ALL

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 3

Don’t Miss This! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Word from Your Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Bible Studies for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Attributes of Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Article: Four Questions Groups Should Ask About Prayer Requests . . . . . . . . . . 14

God Is …SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

March 4 Session 1 Our Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Article: The Angel of the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

March 11 Session 2 Our Healer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

March 18 Session 3 Our Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

March 25 Session 4 Our Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Special Focus: God Is Faithful

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

April 1 Session God Is Faithful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

April 8 Session 5 Our Shepherd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

April 15 Session 6 Our Righteousness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Article: The Strength in Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Stand Up: How to Fight Injustice

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

April 22 Session 1 Be Ready to Stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

April 29 Session 2 Stand with Conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

May 6 Session 3 Stand Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

May 13 Session 4 Stand with Humility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

May 20 Session 5 Stand Up and Speak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

May 27 Session 6 Keep Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Article: The Role of Queen Esther . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Coming in Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

CONTENTS

4 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader GuideVolume 5, Number 3Spring 2018

ERIC GEIGERVice President, Church Resources

LYNN H. PRYORTeam Leader

CHRIS JOHNSONContent Editor

KEN BRADDY Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies

MICHAEL KELLEYDirector, Groups Ministry

Send questions/comments to:Content Editorby email to [email protected] mail to:Bible Studies for Life: Senior AdultsLeader GuideOne LifeWay PlazaNashville, TN 37234-0175

Or make comments on the web at www.lifeway.com

Ken Parker wrote the commentary for the “God Is …” sessions. He has served as an associate pastor and pastor and was an editor at LifeWay. Ken is currently retired and serves in various roles at The Church at Station Hill in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

E. LeBron Matthews wrote the commentary for “God Is Faithful.” Dr. Matthews earned both the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously has written Bible study lessons for the Explore the Bible Series as well as articles for the Biblical Illustrator and the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Janice K. Meier wrote the commentary for the “Stand Up: How to Fight Injustice” sessions. A gifted Hebrew scholar, Dr. Meier is particularly qualified to write Bible study materials, having served at LifeWay as a content editor for more than eighteen years, including several years as editor of the Explore the Bible Commentary.

Don’t miss this!

Social MediaConnect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users. Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and link to great blog content. www.facebook.com/BibleStudiesForLife

Get instant updates about new articles, giveaways, and more. @BibleMeetsLife

CommentaryDig deeper into Scripture with the The Herschel Hobbs Commentary. It features in-depth Bible exposition on the passages studied in this book.

BlogEvery week, you’ll find helpful add-ons and additional suggestions in our “Leader Extra” posts. You’ll also find teaching tips, links to magazine articles, insights from our editorial team, and sermon outlines to complement every session. BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra

Printed in the United States of America.

Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide (ISSN: 2330-9822; Item 005075045) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2017 LifeWay.

This Leader Guide is designed for leaders of senior adults ages 70 and up. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter, and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, call (800) 458-2772, or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS—All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB®), Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.


A Word from the Bible Studies for Life Team

A high point of my week is the time I spend leading my Bible study group. I am both challenged and encouraged as we discuss together the studies in Bible Studies for Life. I pray that you are equally challenged and encouraged as you meet with your group to study together.

The Bible Studies for Life team has put a lot of love, work, and prayer in the Personal Study Guide and the book you are holding! The members of your group can get a lot of benefit from the Personal Study Guide in either of two ways:

1. Read the session before the group meets. By reading beforehand, group members will have thought through the discussion questions, become familiar with the passage, and be better prepared for an engaging discussion.

2. Read the session after the group meets. By reading afterwards, group members can dig further into the truths, principles, and applications your group discussed. This approach underscores the point from the session, and helps individuals to live it out during the week.

Encourage those in your group to choose the approach that works best for them. Let the Personal Study Guide be a tool for discipleship and growth in Christ.

Enjoy!

Lynn Pryor

Team Leader

@lynnpryor | www.lynnhpryor.com

A Word from Our Team

The Bible Studies for Life Team


Leader PackThe optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially

for visual learners. Pull in the Leader Pack items as referenced in the group plan.

The Leader Pack also includes a CD-ROM with:

> JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any

presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint). Promote the study by placing

these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images

during the sessions to reinforce the study topic.

> PDF file of each pack item, so you can create multiple posters. During your

session, display the image on a screen using any presentation software, or

post the image on social media to promote the study.

> Sample Twitter® and email messages to post prior to your Bible study time

in order to raise awareness and promote the session topic.

> Promotional videos to introduce the six-session studies.

> An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print.

> Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study.

Invite the Holy Spirit’s GuidanceBecause God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be

the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with

the Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application.

Personal Study GuideThen read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and

direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group.

Leader GuideFollow the simple directives in the group plan, which will guide you in

engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the

commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the

commentary as needed during the group discussion.

USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE


Additional IdeasAdditional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are

available online at www.BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra. You’ll also find

all the magazine articles we mention in this study guide.

Prepare Your Group MembersEncourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to

the group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the

meeting as a way to follow up and reflect.)

Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page

(Facebook.com/BibleStudiesforLife), our blog (BibleStudiesforLife.com), or

on Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife).

For Those Who Want to Go DeeperThe Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more

extensive commentary. It includes CSB-based exposition of each session’s

Scripture passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the

setting of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the

study, and interactive responses to help readers apply God’s truths to their

lives today.

The Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and

provides a comprehensive exposition of each session’s Scripture passage.

Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would

miss without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James

Version but interacts with all major English translations.

Each quarter, Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information

on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through

vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics, and lesson-targeted

articles. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway.com/

biblical illustrator or by calling 1-800-458-2772. Forty additional articles (in

PDF form) that support this quarter’s Bible studies are available for $3.00 per

bundle at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator.


MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS








How do you measure discipleship? Research conducted by LifeWay revealed eight factors that are consistently present in the lives of believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. These “attributes of discipleship” form the foundation for the scope and sequence of studies used in Bible Studies for Life. By regularly engaging these studies, your group will experience an intentional plan for discipleship in the following eight ways:

Bible Engagement. Transformation can be recognized when our mind is sharpened by the Bible, our perspective is shaped by the Bible, and our actions are directed by the Bible.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Obeying God and Denying Self. Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. Transformation can be seen when we progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities.

“Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Serving God and Others. Transformation is evident when personal needs and even dreams are set aside for the needs we see in others.

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matt. 25:40).

Sharing Christ. Even as we need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it.

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15).

Exercising Faith. Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God’s will.

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:19b-20).

Seeking God. Transformation is seen when our desire is to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matt. 6:33).

Building Relationships. Our faith is personal but it is not intended to be private. Our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives. See page 13 for more details.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

Unashamed. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting his or her own life as being aligned with Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).

THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISCIPLESHIP


BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

B Y P H I L I P N A T I O N

Our faith is intensely personal but God never intended it to be exclusively private.

Jesus established the church for our collective good and our collaborative growth. After all, humans are relational by nature. Spiritually, we are no different. As believers, our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship does with God. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives.

Throughout the Bible, we watch as God created a people for Himself through Abraham. As the Hebrews moved in and out of faithfulness to the Lord, God continued to lead them in how to relate to Him and with one another. Then, when Christ arrived, He assembled the apostles and taught His followers to love and care for one another. Throughout the rest of the New Testament, we learn how the church is to function in fellowship with one another and care for those still outside of the faith.

The life of a Christian is one where we care for others and seek to build relationships in order to display the love of Christ. In Acts 2:42, we see a summary of how the first century church operated: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.”

The church did not assemble just for public proclamation of the gospel. Although that proclamation is critical to what they did, the people in the church also looked out for one another. They were “devoted ... to the fellowship.” Growing believers do not try to make it on their own. Instead, we band together for the work of His kingdom.

Maturing disciples intentionally make time for spiritual matters in everyday conversations. As we grow together as Christians, we share how God is working in our lives.

Dr. Philip Nation is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bradenton, Florida and is the author of Habits for Our Holiness.

The Transformational Discipleship research project revealed that believers who are progressing in their faith do so together. They share their feelings, joy, struggles, and needs with Christian friends.

In other words, they seek out one another and do life together. The research even revealed that growing Christians actively admit wrongdoing to one another, a reflection of the trust that comes with maturity. Rather than jockey for position as the world does, believers build relationships through humility and trust.

Our faith is all about relationship. We have been invited into a saving relationship with Jesus. He connects us to the church so that we have relationships to nurture and protect us as we grow. We are sent on God’s mission into the world to build relationships with those who do not yet believe. It is all a beautiful portrait of God reaching out and caring for us.


B Y D W A Y N E M C C R A R Y

Almost every Bible study group shares prayer requests. In fact, we may even feel cheated if our group eliminates prayer requests! Unfortunately, gathering prayer requests is as far as it usually goes. But what if we saw a prayer request as an opportunity?

Here’s what I mean: some prayer requests require ministry action. For example, if a couple uses the prayer time to announce that they are expecting a baby, passing that information along to the Preschool Sunday School leaders would be important. Deacons and other ministry leaders could be informed about hospital stays, family crises, and deaths of family members. In this way, the prayer request becomes an opportunity for ministry action, reaching all areas of the church.

FOUR QUESTIONS GROUPS SHOULD ASK ABOUT PRAYER REQUESTS


ARTICLE HEAD

Prayer requests also represent opportunities for church leaders. By knowing needs, leaders can make wise choices when they plan events, host fellowships, and train leaders. The pastor could better understand the needs of the church and prepare sermons that meet the needs expressed in the prayer requests. Being aware of specific needs makes him a better pastor.

1. How can we efficiently gather accurate prayer requests?

Notice the two words, efficiently and accurate. A Bible study group could spend the majority of their time gathering requests, but that would compromise their time of actually studying the Bible. For me, making a sheet of paper available during the study time for people to record their requests has been the most efficient. The second element is accurate. We want to make sure that the requests shared are up to date. There is nothing worse than telling someone you are praying for their loved one, only to find out the loved one passed away a month ago.

2. How do we communicate the requests?

This question involves both form and medium. How we word something is very important. If someone requests prayer for a nephew who hates his job and is looking for a new one, that request could be worded when shared with others as a request for a nephew who needs wisdom about his future. We don’t know who may read the requests, so we need to be careful. Hospital stays and other events requiring time away from home become important information if it falls into the wrong hands, which brings us to the medium: should we post all our requests on social media? What are the risks of making a request public? Do we really want everyone on Facebook to know about Dave having surgery and being in rehab for six weeks? How we communicate is important.

3. To whom should we communicate these requests?

We have already mentioned sharing requests with the pastor and other church leaders. Who else needs to know about the prayer request? We mentioned a couple announcing an addition to their family earlier. Who all needs to know about that particular request, and why?

4. How can we encourage those making a specific request?

Gathering prayer requests is certainly about being aware and knowing how to pray intelligently, but it is also about encouraging those for whom we are praying. There is nothing like getting a note from someone who is praying specifically for you. Those notes lighten the load and help us face whatever challenge we are facing. Part of this is celebrating God’s answers as well. Both the one being prayed for and the one praying are encouraged by answered prayer, so finding a way to include answers to requests is also important.

G. Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

16

GOD IS …

17

You are probably known by different names.

Those names reflect both your character and your relationships with those people. For example, people who know me professionally call me Dr. Hemphill, yet others who know me personally call me Ken. My children call me Daddy and my grandkids call me Papa.

The many names of God revealed in Scripture tell us much about His character. Those names invite us to know Him in a growing, intimate relationship. Knowing these names is important for three reasons:

1. God’s name is inherently great. “Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!” (Ps. 8:1). Understanding the names of God will enable us to praise and worship Him more effectively.

2. God’s name protects and benefits us. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower” (Prov. 18:10). The various names become a tremendous aid to effective and specific prayer.

3. We represent God’s name and must bring honor to it. God gave Ten Commandments and one of those Commandments has to do with His name: “Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (Ex. 20:7). This command means far more than avoiding its use in vulgar or slang expressions. It means the people of God must reflect His name or character in their lives. The names of God are a love gift to us. God reveals Himself fully so that we might experience His fullness. As we look at six of those names, we will discover truths about the lovely character of our God.

KEN HEMPHILL

Ken is husband to Paula, father to three daughters, and grandfather to ten grandchildren. He is a pas-

tor who is passionate about the church and God’s Word. He has served in many capacities in South-

ern Baptist life and is a prolific author. He is currently the Director for Church Planting and Revitaliza-

tion at North Greenville University.

18 S e S S i o n 1

SESSION 1

OUR PROVIDER

The PointTrust God to meet our needs.

The Bible Meets LifeOur tendency is to live by what

we can see. We believe what we

can touch. We’re confident when

what we need is right in front us.

But life does not always hand us

easy answers and solutions. A life

in Christ is a life of trust—trusting Him to provide what we need, even when

we don’t readily see the answer. Abraham showed us that God truly is our

Provider.

The PassageGenesis 22:1-14

The SettingGod called Abram (Abraham) to leave his homeland, with the promise that

God would bring him to a new land and make from him a great nation. Despite

God’s promise, for many years Abraham’s wife Sarah remained childless.

Finally, at the age of 100, Abraham was able to see the fulfillment of God’s

promise when Sarah bore him a son they named Isaac.

GET INTO THE STUDY

GUIDE: Over the next six

weeks we will look at aspects

of God’s character revealed

through various names of

God. Invite members to turn to

page 3 in the Personal Study

Guide (PSG) and review

session titles.

LEADER PACK: Display Pack

Item 1: “God Is …” Overview

to introduce the major theme

of this study and the focus of

each session.

DISCUSS: Draw attention to

the picture on PSG page 12

and ask Question #1: What’s

one of the hardest things

you have had to do?

GUIDE: Reinforce The Point

on PSG page 13: Trust God to

meet our needs.

5 minutes

Genesis 22:1-2

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him,

“Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you

love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt

offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

1 Verse 1. Testing is a fact of life. It begins at infancy with doctor visits and progresses to school exams. It continues through adulthood for all of our lives. As Christians, we learn that God allows our faith to be tested, not to harm us, but rather to help us grow in our faith. In the Bible we see two sources of testing. God sometimes allows Satan to test us. The first example in Scripture is Satan’s testing (or tempting) Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7). Satan also tested Job (Job 1:6–2:10). The other source of testing is God Himself (Deut. 8:1-2). God’s purpose in testing is never to cause believers to fail or to sin (Jas. 1:13) but to discipline them and strengthen their faith (Deut. 8:5; Heb. 12:3-13). Such tests can deepen our relationship with God and demonstrate our obedience to Him. Perhaps the most helpful instruction on such tests of our faith comes from the examples of people like us that are recorded in Scripture. Our focal passage concerns one of those individuals —Abraham, the great man of faith.

The biblical account of the life of Abraham (Abram1) begins with his genealogy and his call from God to leave his homeland (Gen. 11:10–12:7). After he received this word from God, Scripture states simply that “Abram went, as the Lord had told him” (12:4). It was because of his faith that Abraham obeyed God’s call to leave his homeland and go to a new land God would show him (Heb. 11:8).

Part of God’s promise to Abraham was that he would become the father of a great nation: “The Lord said to Abram: ‘Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation’ ” (Gen. 12:1-2). Implicit in the promise of making Abraham into a great nation was that Abraham would have a son. At this stage of Abraham’s life, he had no son and his wife, Sarah, was unable to conceive a child (11:30). How could he be the father of a great nation if he did not have a son (15:2-3)? Abraham and Sarah finally were able to see the fulfillment of God’s promise when their son Isaac was born,

STUDY THE BIBLEGenesis 22:1-2 .

GUIDE: Refer group members

to ”The Bible Meets Life”

on PSG page 13. Point out

the author’s example of how

God provided for his family in

a time of crisis and transition.

Elicit other examples from

group members.

SUMMARIZE: Before reading

the passage, set the context by

summarizing the information

in The Setting on page 18.

READ: Read or ask a volunteer

to read Genesis 22:1-2.

SUMMARIZE: Refer to Bible

Commentary 1 on this page

and page 20 to demonstrate

how God uses testing to help

us grow in our faith. Point

out that at the beginning of

Abraham’s walk with God and

all along the way …

• “Abram went as the Lord had told him” (Gen. 12:4)

• “Abram believed the Lord” (Gen. 15:6)

• “Here I am.” (Gen. 22:1)

10 minutes

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F M A R C H 4 19

THE POINT

20 S e S S i o n 1

Trust God to meet our needs.

even though at the time of Isaac’s birth Abraham was one hundred years old and Sarah was ninety (17:1-22; 21:1-5).

Genesis 22 opens with the words after these things, signifying that some time had passed since the events of the previous chapters. Isaac had grown from a small child to young boy, probably an adolescent.2 (See commentary on verses 5-6 below for further details.)

God spoke to Abraham again to test him. When God called his name, Abraham replied simply, “Here I am,” implying not only that he heard but also that he was listening for instructions that would follow. As noted above, God already had tested Abraham’s faith several other times. God called him to leave his family and home (Gen. 12:1). He also asked Abraham to trust that though he had no son God would enable him to become the father of a great nation (v. 2), a trust that would require twenty-five years of waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled (12:4; 17:17).

2 Verse 2. However, this test of Abraham’s faith was far greater than any of the previous tests he had undergone. God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. This test affected Abraham in at least three distinct ways. First, there was the human relationship between a father and a son. God stressed this special relationship with three phrases: “your son,” “your only son Isaac,” and “whom you love.” God knew how much Abraham loved Isaac. Any normal father would love his son, but Isaac was the son of Abraham’s old age. Abraham had waited twenty-five years to hold this child. Furthermore, Isaac was literally a miracle baby. God had kept His promise to give Abraham a son even though his wife, Sarah, was unable to conceive children. How could God ask Abraham to give Isaac back? And, finally, Isaac was the key to God’s covenant not only to make a great nation from Abraham, but also to bless all the peoples of the earth through Abraham as well (12:2-3; see Rom. 4:16). If God took Isaac, how could that part of His promise be fulfilled?

God demonstrated the seriousness of His command to Abraham by giving specific instructions. He told Abraham to take Isaac and go to the land of Moriah. This land was about sixty miles north of Beersheba where Abraham was living. Years later King David would establish his capital city of Jerusalem in this region. Eventually, David’s son Solomon would build the temple on this site (2 Chron. 3:1).

God told Abraham to offer Isaac there as a burnt offering. At this time most of the religions of the surrounding nations


to PSG page 14 to the bulleted

list of examples in Abraham’s

life when he faltered in times

of testing.

• In his fear, he claimed Sarah was not his wife—twice! (Gen. 12:12-13; 20:1-3).

• In his doubt, he attempted to help fulfill God’s promise by having a son by Sarah’s slave Hagar (18:1-3).

Remind group members

that in his life Abraham

experienced faith and failure.

Note that Abraham’s prior

experiences prepared him for

this “final exam.”

SUMMARIZE: Use Bible

Commentary 2 to provide

background information for

the test set before Abraham to

offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

This test affected Abraham in

three distinct ways:

• The human relationship between a father and a son.

• Isaac was a miracle baby, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

• Isaac was the key to God’s covenant with Abraham.

21

offered sacrifices to their gods as part of their worship rituals. Some even offered child sacrifices. Later when God gave Israel the Law through Moses at Mount Sinai, He specifically prohibited such practices (Lev. 18:21; Deut. 18:9-12). Of course, at this point Abraham did not have the Law.

Noah was the first person in Scripture to offer a burnt offering to God after the great flood (Gen. 8:20). The Mosaic Law required this type of offering to be given in the morning and evening, as well as on special occasions such as on Sabbaths and the annual feasts (Num. 28–29). It was also required to provide ritual cleansing after some type of defilement. It could also be required as an offering to atone for sin and restore fellowship with God (1 Chron. 21:18-26). The individual offering the sacrifice was to kill the animal, skin it, and cut it into pieces. The priests were to arrange the pieces on the altar and burn them completely (Lev. 1:1-9). The fact that this type of offering was completely consumed served as an indication of the worshiper’s complete devotion to God.3

Genesis 22:3-10

3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his

donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son

Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to

the place God had told him about.

4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in

the distance.

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the

donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then

we’ll come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it

on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife,

and the two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My

father.”

And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”

DISCUSS: Question #2

(PSG, p. 16): What are

the purposes of tests in

our lives?

(Alternate: What is the most

surprising part of this story?)

TRANSITION: ”Next we will

see Abraham’s obedient

response to God’s directive.”

STUDY THE BIBLEGenesis 22:3-10

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

Genesis 22:3-10.

GUIDE: Point out how the

biblical writer used repetition

of phrases in this story:

• “Here I am.“ (vv. 1,11)

• “the two of them walked on together. (vv. 6,8)

15 minutes

THE POINT

22 S e S S i o n 1


Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the

lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for

the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on

together.

9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him

about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood.

He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of

the wood.

10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to

slaughter his son.

3 Verses 3-4. The text does not tell us what was going through Abraham’s mind. We are told simply that Abraham did not delay in obeying God’s command in faith. Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, gathered wood for the sacrifice, and left for Moriah with two of his servants and his son Isaac. Since the distance was about sixty miles, the journey would have taken several days. When they drew close to the site, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. It’s one thing to begin a journey that you know will end in grief; it’s quite another to see your destination in front of you!

4 Verses 5-6. Abraham stayed focused and obedient. He told his servants to go no farther. The terrain in this region was rocky and elevated, so maybe they assumed that it would be too difficult to take the donkey. He told them that he and Isaac would go ahead and worship God. This was not the first time Abraham had built an altar for worship (Gen. 12:8; 13:18), so perhaps the servants did not sense anything strange about Abraham’s behavior. Nor would they have thought there was anything unusual about his statement that he and Isaac would return to them. But since we know about the purpose of the journey, we have to wonder what Abraham meant. Hebrews 11:17-19 enables us to understand. The writer tells us that Abraham simply kept trusting God’s promises regarding Isaac, especially that through Isaac God would fulfill His promise to make a great


Commentary 3 to show

Abraham did not delay in

obeying God’s command

in faith.


Commentary 4 on this page

and page 23 to explain that

Abraham stayed focused and

obedient, trusting in God.

READ: Enlist a group member

to read Hebrews 11:17-19

to provide New Testament

commentary on this story of

Abraham’s great faith:

“He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.”


Commentary 5 on page 23

to show Abraham’s faith

as he responded to Isaac’s

question about the lamb for

the burnt offering.

23

nation. Though most likely Abraham had never heard of God’s raising anyone from the dead, he had faith that if he obeyed God’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, God could and would restore Isaac to life. Abraham trusted God for what he needed, even if that need involved raising his son from the dead!

As was indicated above, many years had passed between Isaac’s birth and this event. The text provides clues as to Isaac’s age. The Hebrew term Abraham used for Isaac when speaking to the servants (translated the boy) can range in meaning from an infant to a young adult. However, Isaac being old enough to carry the wood for the burnt offering up the mountain to the place of the sacrifice indicates that by this time he probably was an adolescent.

After giving instructions to his servants, Abraham took the wood for the fire, probably tied it into a bundle, and placed it on Isaac’s shoulders. He then took the fire (perhaps a torch or a burning ember from a fire) and the sacrificial knife. This kind of knife was probably a large knife designed for cutting into pieces the animal to be sacrificed. Abraham and Isaac continued walking on together.

5 Verses 7-9. As they walked away from the servants, Isaac addressed Abraham, “My father.” Perhaps Isaac had remained quiet because of his respect for and his trust in his father. But from his father’s words to the servants he understood that they were nearing the end of their journey, so he asked the obvious question: “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham’s answer is one of the most significant theological declarations ever spoken: “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” How could Abraham make such a statement in light of God’s clear command to sacrifice his only son whom he loved (Gen. 22:2)? The answer is his faith in the God he had worshiped and served for so many years. The only way Abraham could reconcile God’s promise with God’s command was by faith, the trust that leads to obedience regardless of human logic.

Verse 10. The narrator described the progression of events so simply and dramatically: the two … walked together … they arrived … Abraham built the altar … arranged the wood … bound his son Isaac … placed him on the altar. There was only one step left—Abraham picked up the knife to slaughter his son.


to the concluding paragraph

of this section of Scripture on

PSG page 18:

“Just reading the account leaves us nearly breathless. Abraham was committed to obey the command of God. His faith had so matured that he was confident God would provide a lamb somehow. Abraham’s actions were based on His understanding of the character of God. Our circumstances never test God’s faithfulness; they only test our understanding of the character and purpose of God.”


(PSG, p. 18): When have

you been tested to trust

God when His provision

wasn’t apparent?

(Alternate: When have you

experienced a time of testing?)

TRANSITION: ”Next we will

see how God was faithful

to provide the lamb for the

sacrifice, just as Abraham said.”

THE POINT

24 S e S S i o n 1


Genesis 22:11-14

11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and

said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He replied, “Here I am.”

12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do

anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you

have not withheld your only son from me.”

13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket

by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered

it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so

today it is said: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”

KEY WORDS: The Lord Will Provide (v. 14)—The name given to the

location where God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead of his son

Isaac. It emphasizes God’s deliverance.

6 Verse 11-12. God provides what we need when we need it. Abraham heard a voice calling his name twice, not only to get his attention but also as an indication of the seriousness of the words that would follow. The one calling Abraham’s name was the angel of the Lord … from heaven. The literal translation is “an angel of Yahweh.” Yahweh is God’s personal, covenant name by which He would later reveal Himself to Moses and the Israelites (Ex. 3:14-15). The angel of the Lord appears many times in the Old Testament as a heavenly messenger who is either a being sent by God or God Himself. The angel of the Lord is thought by some to be the pre-incarnate Christ. Though the title suggests a being separate from God, the angel’s words seem to indicate that He is God Himself (Gen. 22:12 ; Ex. 3:1-10).

Notice that Abraham’s reply (“Here I am”) is the same as his response when God first called him and gave him the command to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:1). This time the command was to stop what he was about to do. In one of the instances where the angel of the Lord’s words seem to indicate that this is God Himself speaking, the angel of the

STUDY THE BIBLEGenesis 22:11-14

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

Genesis 22:11-14.

GUIDE: Refer members to

DIGGING DEEPER on PSG

page 19, to provide an

explanation about the phrase

angel of the Lord.



further explanation to the

angel of the Lord.

Note Abraham’s reply to the

angel, “Here I am,” the same

response as in verse 1.

GUIDE: Refer members to

PSG page 19, to the author’s

explanation of the term

Jehovah-Jireh.

• Jireh means “to see.”

• Provision means “to see beforehand.”

10 minutes

25

Lord stated, “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” The reason God changed His command was that now He knew Abraham feared Him. We should be careful how we interpret these words. God was not ignorant: He did not need to test Abraham so that He could know that Abraham was fully devoted to Him. God tested Abraham so that Abraham could know and so that God could strengthen his faith.

How did this test strengthen Abraham’s faith? By teaching Abraham that even in what seemed to be a contradiction—between God’s command and His promise—even then he should always obey the command. Regardless of the difficulty of the command—in this case, his deep love for his son—he should still trust and obey.

7 Verses 13-14. There was one more lesson to be learned. When Abraham turned his focus from Isaac, he saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. Abraham knew this was no coincidence; he had told Isaac, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (Gen. 22:8). Of course, God’s timing is always perfect. Abraham got the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham had learned another lesson, so he named that place The Lord Will Provide. The Hebrew transliteration is Jehovah-Jireh, or Yahweh yireh. Sometimes it is transliterated as a name for God: Yahweh-Jireh. “This name is a testimony to God’s deliverance.”4 The Hebrew for “Lord”—Yahweh—is God’s personal name and is the same term found in “the angel of the Lord.” This word emphasizes God’s covenant relationship with His people by which He binds Himself to His promises.

This location later became the spot on which Solomon built his great temple in Jerusalem. Countless sacrifices would be offered there as people came to the temple to worship God. About 2000 years after the time of Abraham, another sacrifice would be offered outside the city—the sacrifice of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus, God the Father’s perfect Lamb, offered Himself as the complete and final sacrifice to take away our guilt and free us from slavery to sin (John 8:34; Rom. 3:9-12,23). Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, God provided the way to bring us back into relationship with Him through faith in Jesus.

1. Abraham was originally known as Abram and Sarah as Sarai. Throughout this session, the names God gave them, Abraham and Sarah (Gen. 17:5,15), will be used.

2. Kenneth A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B in The New American Commentary [NAC] (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2005), 289.

3. Kenneth A. Mathews, Genesis 1–11:26, vol. 1A in NAC (B&H Publishing Group, 1996), 392.4. Brad Creed, “Names of God” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, gen. ed. Chad Brand, rev. ed. (Nashville: Holman

Reference, 2015), 1144.

GUIDE: Use KEY WORDS

on page 24 (PSG, p. 18) to

provide insight on the phrase

The Lord Will Provide.



further explanation to God’s

provision. Note the gospel

connection: God provided a

sacrificial Lamb in Jesus, who

“takes away the sin of the

world” (John 1:29).


(PSG, p. 19): What are some

ways God has provided for

you specifically?


(PSG, p. 20): How can our

actions and attitudes show

others that we serve the

God who provides?

(Alternate: How does this

passage foreshadow the

gospel?)

DO: Invite volunteers to turn to

PSG page 20 and respond to

the activity “Personal Needs

Survey.” Ask volunteers

to share responses to the

different categories of need.

THE POINT

26 S e S S i o n 1


LIVE IT OUTDuring your lifetime God has used challenging circumstances to lead you to a deeper understanding of His ability to provide for your every need. What will you do with this truth today?

> Identify your Isaac. What circumstance, person, or thing are you having the most difficulty placing in God’s care? Consider why it is a challenge to trust God in this area of your life.

> Place your Isaac on the altar. Abraham had to first gather the resources necessary to make a sacrifice before he could find God’s provision. Identify concrete steps you can take to place your “Isaac” in God’s care.

> Look for God’s provision. When we are so focused on the cost of placing Isaac on the altar, we can miss what God is doing. Look for God’s provision. Make known to others the good things God is providing in your life.

You can experience a breakthrough in your faith walk when you are willing to trust God with those things you hold most precious.

LIVE IT OUT

GUIDE: Emphasize The

Point: Trust God to meet our

needs.

REVIEW: Review Live It Out

(PSG, p. 21); (see text to the

right). Encourage each group

member to follow through

this week with at least one of

the applications.

WRAP IT UP

GUIDE: Remind group

members that at the core of

God’s nature and character

He is Jehovah-Jireh—The Lord

Will Provide. You can trust

God to provide for all of your

needs according to His riches

(Phil. 4:19) because that’s who

He is and that’s what He does.

PRAY: ”Father, thank You for

Your provision, whether we

recognize it or acknowledge it,

You are, have been, and will be

our provider.”

5 minutes

27

Free additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra

Hittite religious scene possibly a man being led by two soldiers to be a human sacrifice; from the Aslani Gate at Bogazkoy, which was the capital of the ancient Hittite Kingdom.

The evil kings Ahaz and Manasseh of Judah set up shrines for the pagan god Molech, and people offered children to him in sacrifice (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6). “In times of apostasy some Israelites, apparently in desperation, made their children ‘go through the fire to Molech’” (see Lev. 18:21; 2 Kings 23:10). Bible scholars generally assume such scriptural references point to the sacrifices of children in the Valley of Hinnom.

The godly King Josiah destroyed the shrine along with every evidence of pagan practices the

evil kings of Judah instituted (2 Kings 23:4-20). The prophet Jeremiah denounced the evil practiced in the Valley of Hinnom and prophesied God’s judgment upon the people (Jer. 7:31; 19:2-6; 32:35-36).

The Bible contains two stories that allude to human sacrifice. Jephthah vowed to the Lord that if he won the war against the Ammonites, he would offer as a burnt offering the first thing to greet him when he returned home. His only daughter came out of the house, and was thus the offering (Judg. 11:29-40). Genesis 22 records the other story: God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God observed the obedience of Abraham and, at the last moment, rescinded the command and provided a ram to be sacrificed as a substitute for Isaac.

Gods clearly revealed His abhorrence of human sacrifice.

The excerpt above is from the article “Human Sacrifice in the Ancient Near East” (Spring 2014), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.

ILLU

STRA

TOR

PHO

TO/ D

AVID

RO

GER

S/ A

RCH

AEO

LOG

ICAL

MU

SEU

M/ A

NKA

RA, T

URK

EY (2

56/1

9)SHARING THE GOOD NEWSOur greatest need

is forgiveness and

freedom from wrath and

condemnation. God provided

what we need through the

death and resurrection of

Jesus Christ. We receive the

freedom and forgiveness we

need when we trust Christ.

Each week, make yourself

available either before or after

the session to speak privately

with anyone in your group

who wants to know more

about becoming a Christian.

See the article, “Leading

Someone to the Greatest

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

guidance in leading a person

to Christ.

Remind group members that

page 2 in the PSG offers

guidance in how to become a

Christian. Encourage believers

to consider using this article

as they have opportunities to

lead others to Christ.


B Y J O H N T R A Y L O R

Who was “The angel of the Lord” (Gen. 22:11)1 who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his only son on Moriah, the site that, according to tradition, became the Temple Mount in Jerusalem? Do we find hints to the Angel’s identity when He spoke as God and swore by Himself to bless Abraham and his seed “since he had no one greater to swear by” (Heb. 6:13)? What insight did Abraham have to name that place “The Lord Will Provide” (Gen. 22:14)? God provided a ram to substitute for Abraham’s only son (v. 13). Who would be the sacrificial lamb (v. 8) God would provide to fulfill the proverbial saying: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain” (v. 14)?

A reconstructed well at theentrance to ancient Beersheba.The angel found Hagar by a springon her way from Beersheba to Egypt, which was Hagar’s homeland.

ARTICLE PHO

TO CRED

IT

ANGEL OF THE LORD


ARTICLE PHO

TO CRED

IT

Messenger of the Lord

“Angel” in “the Angel of the Lord” translates the Hebrew noun malak, from a root meaning “to send.” The Hebrew Old Testament used malak for both human and divine messengers. An example of human messengers would be those Jacob sent to his brother Esau to reconcile their differences (32:3). Examples of human messengers God sent would be prophets; priests; the one to prepare the way of the Lord; and the prophet Malachi, whose name means “my messenger” (Hag. 1:13; Mal. 1:1; 2:7; 3:1). Malak also referred to angels, the supernatural beings that God created and sends to fulfill His will (Pss. 91:11; 148:2).

One of a Kind Messenger

“The Angel of the Lord” first appears in Scripture to comfort and guide Hagar, Sarai’s runaway slave, who was carrying Abraham’s child (Gen. 16:7). The story identifies the Angel as “the Lord who spoke to her” (v. 13), and Hagar named the One she saw “Thou God seest me” (v. 13, kjv). Moreover, she called the spring where He appeared to her Beer-lahai-roi, which means “A Well of the Living One Who Sees Me” (v. 14). When the Angel Himself promised Hagar that she would have a son and declared what his life would be like (vv. 10-12), He assumed authority over life as only God can. In keeping with the grammatical construction of Malak Yahweh and the unique identity and role of this Angel, translators have rendered His name “the Angel of the Lord.” The definite article (the) marks this Angel as a one-of-a-kind messenger with none other like Him.

The Angel Who Redeemed

The Lord appeared to Jacob at Bethel in a dream to call Jacob into covenant with Him (28:13). Jacob described his fear in seeing God, marked the place as the house of God, and vowed to make the Lord his God (vv. 16-22). In a second dream, “the angel of God” (31:11) said to Jacob, “I am the God of Bethel” (v. 13) and commanded Jacob to return to his native land.

On his way back Jacob wrestled with “a man” who is later identified as “the angel” (32:24; Hos. 12:4). Jacob named the place “Peniel,” which means “the face of God,” for he had seen God face to face (Gen. 32:30). At the time when

The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth marks the spot where tradition says the angel appeared to Mary.


he blessed his children, Jacob identified the Angel with the God of Abraham and Isaac, the God who had been his Shepherd all his life, and the One who had redeemed him from all evil (48:15-16).

In a Flame of Fire

The Book of Exodus records Moses’ encounter at the burning bush (Ex. 3). What is new in the revelation to Moses is the Angel’s declaration His Presence made the place “holy” and His demand for Moses to remove his shoes before Him in humble worship (v. 5). If the Angel had been an ordinary angel and not God, worship would have been forbidden (Rev. 22:8-9).

New also is the Angel’s appearance. To Moses the Angel appeared in a flame of fire within a bush that was aflame but not consumed. Later, the Angel called “the Lord” and “the angel of God” led Israel from Egypt to Mount Horeb (Mount Sinai) in a pillar of fire and cloud (Ex. 13:21; 14:19). To bring them into covenant with Himself, God appeared

The Dome of the Rock sits atop the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The site marks the traditional location of Solomon’s Temple and where Abraham went to sacrifice his son Isaac.

on Mount Horeb as consuming fire and spoke to His people face to face from its midst (19:18; 24:17; Deut. 5:4).

One with God, Yet Separate

God made a significant distinction between Himself and the Angel He would send to bring His people into the promised land. The Angel would be God, for He would embody God’s name, demand obedience as God, exercise God’s prerogative to forgive or not to forgive sin, and purposed with God to redeem Israel (Ex. 23:20-23). Yet the Angel would be separate in person, for God said, “I am going to send an angel” and “my angel will go before you” (vv. 20,23). How does this Angel relate to Christ, the eternal Logos, who was God yet sent by God to save the world (John 1:1; 3:17)?

The Angel of His Presence

God would send with His people “the angel of his presence” (Ex. 33:14-15; Isa. 63:9). The Angel would be truly God yet not God in all His Glory, for man cannot see


This is an edited version of the article by John Traylor that originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, by using your church’s quarterly literature order form, or by calling 1-800-458-2772..

God in His fullness and live (Ex. 33:20). As in God’s proclamation of His name, Moses saw, as it were, God’s back but not His face (vv. 20-23; 34:5-7). How does a true yet limited revelation of God for man’s sake relate to Christ who clothed Himself in human flesh to declare God (John 1:14,18)?

The Coming Messiah

God declared He would send His messenger before Him to prepare for His coming and then suddenly come to His temple as “the Messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1). God identified “the Messenger of the covenant,” literally “the Angel of the covenant,” as “the Lord you seek.” Christ, who was preceded by His forerunner John the Baptist, fulfilled this messianic prophecy (Isa. 40:3; Matt. 3:1-3; 11:11-15). As “the Angel of the covenant,” Christ would come to fulfill God’s new covenant with His people (Jer. 31:31-34).2

Absent in the New Testament

The absence of the expression “the angel of the Lord” in the New Testament is further evidence “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament was the pre-incarnate Christ who was now present as the Lord Jesus Christ. The expression “the angel of the Lord” found in some translations should be “an angel of the Lord,” since the definite article is absent in the Greek (see Matt. 1:20; 2:13; 28:2; Luke 2:9; Acts 5:19; 12:7,23). “The Lord’s angel” in Matthew 1:24 is the correct translation since the definite article points back to the ordinary angel introduced in 1:20.

Returning to our original question, who then was the Angel who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his only son? Although the answer is shrouded in mystery, I take the Angel to have been Christ in preincarnate form who was later born in Bethlehem, but “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5:2, kjv; see Luke 1:35). Moreover, I believe God fulfilled the saying “it will be provided on the Lord’s mountain” when He sacrificed “his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (Gen. 22:14; John 3:16). Christ is indeed “the Angel of the covenant” whose blood was poured out to fulfill God’s covenant with those who trust Him (Matt. 26:28). I

1. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).2. Other references for a study of the Angel of the LORD would include Josh. 5:13; Judg. 2:1; 6:11; 13:3; 2 Sam. 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chron. 3:1; Ps. 34:7; and Zech. 1:11-16.

How does a true yet

limited revelation of

God for man’s sake

relate to Christ who

clothed Himself in

human flesh

to declare God?

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SENIOR ADULTS SPRING 2018 | LEADER8ef80b58c6ae6b008df1-036eaedec0108d35b1642758b831920a.r94.cf2.… · Romans 10:9-10,13. Invite the person to ... Version but interacts with all major