2^nd Sunday Of Lent

 (8^th March 2009)

 “…your son,

your only child Isaac,

whom you love…”

THE 7 STEPS

1.         SILENCE

2.        WORSHIP

3.        SCRIPTURE

READING

4.       MEDITATION

5.        BY HEART

6.        INTERCESSION

7.        COVENANT

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 22:1-18

“…God put Abraham to the test.  ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called.  ‘Here I am’ he replied.  ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah.  There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’…When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood.  Then he stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.  But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven.  ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said.  ‘I am here’ he replied.  ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said.  ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God.  You have not refused me your son, your only son…”

Meditation: Try to answer as many questions as possible

1.      Why did God call Abraham?  What was Abraham’s response when God called him?  What does Abraham’s response tell you about his character?

2.      When God told Abraham to offer his son, Isaac as a burnt offering, did he say anything in objection to God’s instruction?  Why?     

3.      When the angel of the Lord called to Abraham, what was his response?  When have we heard this response before?  What does this tell you about Abraham?

By Heart: Reflect on this in light of your daily life situation

Who among ourselves has never been tested before?  Students are tested in their academic or intellectual competency.  Workers are tested in their skill or expertise.  Athletes are tested in their endurance or perseverance.    

-          In your opinion, what purpose do examinations or tests have? 

-          What would be the implication for students, workers or athletes without tests?       

-          What is the hardest test that you have encountered before? 

-          How would things have gone if you hadn’t been tested? 

‘God put Abraham to the test’:   This is a father’s worst nightmare.  How could God ask a father to sacrifice his flesh and blood, his only son?  What kind of God would even consider such an unreasonable demand?  

       What happened at Mount Moriah is a foreshadowing of the things that will take place at Mount Calvary.  Just as Isaac, the son of Abraham was bound and led to be sacrificed, Jesus, the Son of God is going to be bound and led to the cross.  God intervened to save Isaac.  But God did not intervene to save his only Son.  Rather, he willingly offered his Son so that we could be saved from our sins.  This is the test of God’s love for us.  He did not have to go through it.  But he did.  He did it for us. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave us his only Son,

Intercessions:

1.      For those who struggle with faith, that through the struggles of Abraham, they may discover the hand of God working in their lives.

2.      For all of us, that we may seek the will of God in everything we do even when we have not yet fully understood it.

3.      For young people, that they may be generous in offering their gifts and talents for the glory of God. 

4.      For the sick and the suffering, that they may be strengthened to carry their crosses together with Jesus this Lent.

5.      For those who have died this week, that they may rest in peace together with the angels and saints in heaven.   

Covenant Prayer: