In the Beginning 09: Akedah of Isaac

In framing the story of God testing Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, Tim positioned God & Abraham as the parent & child to consider.  As he did so, Tim said, “every good thing we want for our kids will come through struggle.”  Think about this idea relative to yourself as the “kid” in question. What good things have come to you through struggle? What wisdom has been grown in you as a result of struggle? Do you think you could have received those same things in another way that didn’t involve struggle?  Are there things you want or have wanted for yourself that you’ve gotten, but have NOT required struggle? if so, what kind of things were they? What has come your way as the result of struggle that is different than what you’d expected or wanted? Has any of it been something you were glad for in the end?

Tim said that this story invites us to consider where we are being tested…or even tempted, as well as how we think about struggle and pain. Below are some questions he asked in his sermon. It’s a heavy duty list. Consider them for yourself personally, and discuss with the group what you are comfortable sharing.  Where are you being tested or maybe even tempted? Does God play any significant role in how you go about living your life?  How much are you collaborating with God? Partnering?  What does God have access to in your life? What does God NOT have access to?  Where are you grasping for your own solutions/your own choices?  What are you pursuing? How are you pursuing it?  What kind of damage are you causing trying to win and get what you want?

Toward the end of his sermon, Tim said, “at some point, we gotta choose to live in partnership & collaboration with God, & there’s a lot riding on that decision.”  It might be easy to hear this as “just do what God says,” or “everything will be fine. Just trust God,” but do you think there’s more to what is being communicated here? What are the nuances that bring more meaning to this story than a simple “just trust God?” Are there any? Is partnership & collaboration with God different? If so, how so? If not, why don’t you think so? What does it look like - maybe particularly in reference to some of what arose for you in response to the last question - to live in active partnership & collaboration with God? Are there concrete actions or intentions that might be a part of that? what would it look like for you? What does it look like in other areas of your life?