Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022 | Lesson 14 || God Test Abraham
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022
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Youth STS LESSON 14 | God Tests Abraham
TEXT: Genesis 22:1-24; 23:1-20
MEMORY VERSE: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am” (Genesis 22:1).
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022 | Lesson 14 MESSAGE
Tests, assignments, examinations and trials have been used in schools as instrument of evaluation to assess the grade, quality, strength and performances of students. It may be in form of objective, theory or even practical used to determine the ranking of such students. God, therefore, tested Abraham and today He has been using tests to determine and evaluate faithfulness, loyality and commitment to do His will.
Question 1: What is test and what are the purposes of tests in schools?
“For to this end also did I write, that 1 might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things” (2 Corinthians 2:9). God has always used tests in different instances; One, demand great sacrifices (Genesis 22:1,2). Two, lead men in difficult way (Deuteronomy 8:2). Three, give opportunities for choice (1 Kings 3:5). Four, proposing hard tasks (John 6:5). Five, prove the condition of the heart (Exodus 20:20). “And it came to pass after these things, that Godndid tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am” (Genesis 22:1).
Question 2: Why did God test Abraham?
The word “tempt” in this text means “test”; to discover or proof the quality of Abraham’s loyalty to God. The other meaning is to draw someone to do evil or sin. This is coined from the word “temptation”. It is a subtle weapon being used by the Devil to draw people to sin. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13, 14).
God tested Abraham, not to draw him into sin but to discover the quality, strength and genuineness of his faith. There is a clear difference between “test” and “temptation”. Test comes from God but temptation from the devil. The ultimate aim of test is promotion while that of temptation is to sin against God. Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022
THE COMMAND TO OFFER ISAAC (Genesis 22:1-10; Proverbs 23:26; Deuteronomy 8:2, 16; Malachi 3: 10)
A command is an order given by a higher authority and it is subject to be obeyed. The highest authority over mankind is God. All youths are created by God for His own purpose alone. Youths are not the owners of their lives; they all belong to God. Therefore, God owns them all that they have. God rnakes demands from youth today as He did from Abraham, and His dernands are not optional but mandatory.
Question 3: What are the benefits of passing God’s tests?
“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). In spite of the earlier promises given to Abraham in the previous chapters, “seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation…” (Genesis 18: 18, 19). God commanded him to offer the dearest possession he had -his only son — as a sacrifice. No reason was given and no alternative was available; yet, God’s promise to Abraham was that in Isaac shall his seed be called.
God was to prove what was in Abraham’s heart through this test to promote him to a higher spiritual level and use him as a model for generations to come (Deuteronomy 8:2, 16). God always tests His children in order to promote them. Once you pass His test, He will take you to higher level.
Question 4: Mention some demands God is making from the youths today.
Some of the commands of God for a youth today include: One, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:3). Two, “Be ye holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Three, “If sinners entice thee, consent though not” (Proverbs 1:10). Four, “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15-17).
Five, “Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Six, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16: 15). Seven, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (Malachi 3: 10). These and other scriptural commands are to be strictly obeyed by every Christian youth.
THE COMMENDATION OF OBEDIENCE TO INSTRUCTIONS (Genesis 22:11-19; Galatians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2: 10)
“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me” (Genesis 22:12).
Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022 | Lesson 14
Question 5: List the blessings Abraham received as a result of his obedience to God.
God commended Abraham for his implicit obedience to Him in readiness to offer his only child to Him as sacrifice. As a result of Abraham’s obedience, God declared to him: one, I will bless you. Two, I will multiply you as the stars of heaven. Three, I will multiply you as the sands which is upon the sea shore. Four, your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
Five, in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Isaac’s cooperation and obedience to his father is highly commendable and instructive. It would have been difficult for Abraham to obey God without the cooperation of Isaac. He did not run away, unlike many ungodly youths today. He did not accuse the God of his father as being callous, uncivilised and wicked.
The faith of his father was also in Him and no wonder he inherited great blessings. God promises for obedient youth is still the same today. If you make up your mind to obey God, your promotion, protection and prosperity cannot be hindered by anyone. God will declare His unchanging “I will” upon your life. The Bible is replete with saints who obeyed God in the Face of challenges to their faith in God. we have Daniel (Daniel 6:1-10); the three Hebrew men (Daniel 3:15- 18,23-30); Job (Job 1:8-12; 42:10-16) and others.
Christian youths must realise that test of their faith come in their journey of life. They must hold on to their conviction to prove the quality of their relationship with God. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 3 April 2022 | Lesson 14
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF SARAH (Genesis 23:1-20; Hebrews 9:27; Mark 8:36,37; Psalm 91:14-16)
“And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her” (Genesis 23:2). Everything that has a beginning must surely have an end. Sarah, the great grandmother of Israel came to the end of her life at the age of one hundred and twenty seven years. Truly we have no continued city here. No matter how longer we live on earth, we shall surely leave this world, either by death or rapture.
The attitude, comportment and reaction of Abraham when he lost his wife Sarah to the cold hands of death was a test case for him. Death is the ultimate end of all mortals. Sarah had finished her course on earth and so she exchanged mortality for immortality because the.Bible declared “…it is appointed unto men once to.die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
This negates re-incarnation and purgatory. However, God has promised all converted youths long life and protection from sudden death: “…With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16).
Question 6: What are the lessons youths can draw about death?
The affection that Abraham had for his wife could be seen in the way he mourned her passage. There are lessons for Christian youths on Sarah’s death; one, at death, mortality is exchanged for immortality. Two, it is an all-leveler for both the rich and poor. Three, all the secret works of men are uncovered. Four, the righteous have a glorious death. Five, our deeds follow us at death. Six, the destiny of the unrepentant sinner is hell. Seven, the believer goes to heaven. Abraham’s conduct among the people was a shining example (Matthew 5:16).
There was no extravagance; burial time is a period of sober reflection on the brevity of life. “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). How prepared are you for eternity? “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,37)
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