Hebrews - worksheet 22
Jesus’ people of faith, part 2 - Hebrews 11:17-22
NKJV heading The Faith of the Patriarchs
Hebrews 11:17-22 (NKJV) says 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten
From this passage we learn from four men, the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Firstly Abraham (verses 17-19). Read Genesis 22:1-19. Especially verse 2 of that passage shockingly says Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Notice, that in those days children were often sacrificed as a worship of pagan gods, like Baäl.
Genesis 22:12 says And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” And verse 14 says And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Q1 Pagan gods want human sacrifices. But what does God not want? Abraham understood and gave mount a new name. Which mount is meant? And which later event comes to mind?
Q2 Was Abraham thinking that God would stop him to plunge the knife into his son Isaac? Or something different that was God’s promise (verse 19)?
Secondly Isaac (verse 20) which says By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
The writer of Hebrews draws back to Genesis 27, where Isaac, in his disfunctional family, blesses his twin-sons Jacob and Esau. All of this family acted ungodly.
Q2 What are “the things to come” as a basis of blessing Jacob fraudulently (Genesis 27:33)? Jacob blessed Jacob, because it was God’s plan.
Q3 Thirdly Jacob (verse 21) which says By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. The last phrase (leaning on the staff) points to the event that God wresteled with Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32). Why did Jacob lean on a staff (Genesis 32:25)? Jacob had to trust God. What did Jacob cry out to God at the “end of his rope” (Genesis 32:26)? Have you come to such a point?
Q4 Fourthly Joseph (verse 22) which says By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. Joseph was one of the most faithful people in the whole Bible. Then, in this letter only one sentence about this man? The writer of Hebrews highlights the instruction of Joseph to keep his bones above ground. Why?
Close in prayer and worship.