|
|
Post by Emily Hollars Leitzke on Jul 19, 2010 10:57:03 GMT -5
FOR DISCUSSION:
What is your favorite Old Testament story? Where did you first hear
this story? Who told it to you? How has this story affected you
personally?
|
|
|
|
Post by mhiner on Jul 19, 2010 14:24:24 GMT -5
I have another favorite story from the OT. It’s a story of one man’s endless faith in God. It is found in Genesis 22; 1-19. Abraham, who’s first legitimate child wasn’t until he was 99 years old, was asked by God to sacrifice this son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham went as far as building the altar, strapping his son down and raising his knife to end the boy’s life when the Lord spoke to him through an angel stopping him.
You might feel this is a drastic measure to test one’s devotion, but it does beg the question, “how far will you trust in the Lord your God?” Abraham is teaching us by example that faith in God is above all things.
Mike Hiner
|
|
|
|
Post by Emily Hollars Leitzke on Jul 19, 2010 20:53:22 GMT -5
The story of Abraham is another great story! Thanks, Mike!
What a thing to ask of a parent: that they sacrifice their own child's life. Unthinkable. And yet, it's what God does for us through Jesus. Amazing. The story of Abraham and Isaac teaches us the first commandment: "I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods besides me." Abraham was faithful to that command, putting his love for God before his love of his son. That reminds me of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not die, but have eternal life." God's willingness to sacrifice his son was because of his love for the world. Wow.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dottie on Jul 20, 2010 8:10:40 GMT -5
Wow is right. God gave His son. Abraham was going to give his son. But if I had to give Hannah to God by my own hand, I couldn't do it. I am not ready to give her up. Does that make be unfaithful? Do I love my daughter more than God?? I would rather give up my life, so she could live. And when she was so sick in 2nd grade, I was talking to God along those very lines.
So when I read those verses, I put myself in their shoes and find it difficult reading. But if I read it only from their point of view, wow what faith!!!!!
Dottie
|
|
|
|
Post by Emily Hollars Leitzke on Jul 20, 2010 22:19:56 GMT -5
I agree with you, Dottie. If I was asked to give Audrey as a sacrifice, I couldn't do it. I don't think that makes us unfaithful; I think it's our humanity, our bondage to sin, that would prevent us from doing what God asked of us. Martin Luther wrote about the Bondage of the Will. The main idea of his writing was this: that the human will is not free as so many believe it is, but rather that the human will must be in bondage to sin, because if our wills were truly free, we would choose God every time, no matter what. I don't think that being faithful requires us to be without sin. Faith is a gift from God: fruit of the Spirit. Faith is what keeps us close to God in spite of sin; sin is what keeps us humble in spite of faith.
|
|
|
|
Post by Emily Hollars Leitzke on Jul 22, 2010 11:20:34 GMT -5
The following are some of the better-known stories of the Old Testament.
* Adam & Eve in the Garden: Genesis 3:6-7
* Noah and the flood: Genesis 6:17-19
* Sarah and Abraham: Genesis 18:9-15
* Joseph and his coat: Genesis 37:23-28
* Moses and Pharaoh: Exodus 2:5-10; Exodus 3:1-6; Exodus 11:4-8
* Crossing the Red Sea: Exodus 14:10-18
* Joshua and the Battle of Jericho: Joshua 6:1-5
* Deborah and the battle at Mt Tabor: Judges 4:8-9
Are these stories you are familiar with? How do you know them? Where did you first hear them? Where do Biblical stories appear in our culture?
|
|
|
|
Post by christie on Dec 22, 2012 11:13:48 GMT -5
I am new to the bible study group and enjoy reading all of your comments.
|
|
|
|
Post by christie on Dec 22, 2012 11:28:12 GMT -5
I too like the story of Abraham but like 3:6-7 Adam and Eve too. The moral of the story is that Adam and Eve both and sinned against God but were too ashambed to show their selves to God.
(John 1:9) God called them and they hid they finally answered him and told them them disobeyed him (this is sin). He made their life hard but he still loved them. He wanted them to confess their sin and once they did he removed them from the Garden. We may make wrong choices in life and by doing this it may make our life harder but as long as we confess our sins and admit our wrong doing and God will still love us. Adam and Eve failed so God sent us his own son to do the job and die for us and rise three days later to give us eternal life. If we confess our sins god will forgive us if we lead a different path in the future.
|
|
