Introduction: Joseph Smith said “ Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation;
What doctrine if understood would help us be committed to that level of sacrifice?
What is the definition of the word Sacrifice?
To sacrifice is to give up something valuable or precious, often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal. Sacrifice has always been a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a reminder of the great atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all who have lived or will live on earth. Before the ministry of Christ, animal sacrifices were offered for this purpose. After the Atonement of Christ, followers of Jesus Christ—by His direction—began to offer instead a "broken heart and contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:20), a willingness to repent of sins and a desire to follow Jesus Christ and align one's life with His commandments. (Source: Church Website)
What do you think about when you hear of ancient prophets offering sacrifices?
(Abraham offering Isaac, building altars, and using animals as burnt offerings.)
Who was the first person to offer sacrifices? (Adam; see Moses 5:5.)
What other prophets offered sacrifices? (Noah, Moses, Isaac, Jacob.)
1. Abraham is nearly sacrificed by the false prophets of Pharaoh.
Abraham 1: 1, 5-20
1 In the land of the Chaldeans, at the residence of my fathers, I, Abraham, saw that it was needful for me to obtain another place of residence;
5 My fathers, having turned from their righteousness, and from the holy commandments which the Lord their God had given unto them, unto the worshiping of the gods of the heathen, utterly refused to hearken to my voice;
6 For their hearts were set to do evil, and were wholly turned to the god of Elkenah, and the god of Libnah, and the god of Mahmackrah, and the god of Korash, and the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt;
7 Therefore they turned their hearts to the sacrifice of the heathen in offering up their children unto these dumb idols, and hearkened not unto my voice, but endeavored to take away my life by the hand of the priest of Elkenah. The priest of Elkenah was also the priest of Pharaoh.
8 Now, at this time it was the custom of the priest of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to offer up upon the altar which was built in the land of Chaldea, for the offering unto these strange gods, men, women, and children.
What impression do you suppose that the conditions in Chaldea made upon the young Abraham?
9 And it came to pass that the priest made an offering unto the god of Pharaoh, and also unto the god of Shagreel, even after the manner of the Egyptians. Now the god of Shagreel was the sun.
10 Even the thank-offering of a child did the apriest of Pharaoh offer upon the altar which stood by the hill called Potiphar’s Hill, at the head of the plain of Olishem.
11 Now, this priest had offered upon this altar three virgins at one time, who were the daughters of Onitah, one of the royal descent directly from the loins of Ham. These virgins were offered up because of their virtue; they would not bow down to worship gods of wood or of stone, therefore they were killed upon this altar, and it was done after the manner of the Egyptians.
12 And it came to pass that the priests laid violence upon me, that they might slay me also, as they did those virgins upon this altar; and that you may have a knowledge of this altar, I will refer you to the representation at the commencement of this record.
13 It was made after the form of a bedstead, such as was had among the Chaldeans, and it stood before the gods of Elkenah, Libnah, Mahmackrah, Korash, and also a god like unto that of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
14 That you may have an understanding of these gods, I have given you the fashion of them in the figures at the beginning, which manner of figures is called by the Chaldeans Rahleenos, which signifies hieroglyphics.
15 And as they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands;
16 And his voice was unto me: Abraham, Abraham, behold, my name is Jehovah, and I have heard thee, and have come down to deliver thee, and to take thee away from thy father’s house, and from all thy kinsfolk, into a strange land which thou knowest not of;
17 And this because they have turned their hearts away from me, to worship the god of Elkenah, and the god of Libnah, and the god of Mahmackrah, and the god of Korash, and the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; therefore I have come down to visit them, and to destroy him who hath lifted up his hand against thee, Abraham, my son, to take away thy life.
18 Behold, I will lead thee by my hand, and I will take thee, to put upon thee my name, even the Priesthood of thy father, and my power shall be over thee.
19 As it was with Noah so shall it be with thee; but through thy ministry my name shall be known in the earth cforever, for I am thy God.
20 Behold, Potiphar’s Hill was in the land of Ur, of Chaldea. And the Lord broke down the altar of Elkenah, and of the gods of the land, and utterly destroyed them, and smote the priest that he died; and there was great mourning in Chaldea, and also in the court of Pharaoh; which Pharaoh signifies king by royal blood.
How was Abraham saved from these false priests?
How might Abraham’s experience on the altar of the false priests have helped prepare him for future trials?
How can our trials help us prepare for future difficulties?
2. Abraham has children through Hagar and Sarah.
Genesis 15:
1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
What promise did the Lord give Abraham regarding children?
Genesis 16:
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
Why did Sarah give Hagar to Abraham as his wife?
Genesis 16:
10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
What promise did the Lord give Hagar?
Genesis 17:15-16, 19, 21
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
What did God reveal to Abraham in these verses and how did Abraham respond? (Note: Joseph Smith translation says rejoiced instead of laughed)
How were the promises that God made regarding Isaaac different from those regarding Ishmael?
3. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
Genesis 22
1 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.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and have the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? (Tempt means to test or to prove)
Why would this have been a difficult test for Abraham?
How did Abraham respond to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac?
What can we learn from Abraham about faith and obedience?
Genesis 22:
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
How did Isaac respond to this situation?
Elder Oaks: “When they came to the prescribed place, Abraham built an altar and laid wood upon it. Then the bible says: “Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” What did Isaac think when Abraham did such a strange thing? The Bible mentions no struggle or objection. Isaac’s silence can be explained only in terms of his trust in and obedience to his father.” (Ensign, Nov. 1992, p 37.)
What are some similarities between Abraham’s experience and Heavenly Father’s?
What is the greatest difference?
In what way can we be compared to Isaac? If Isaac represents us, whom does the ram in the thicket represent? How do these comparisons help you better understand Heavenly Father’s love for you in sacrificing his Son?
Elder Oaks: “This story…shows the goodness of God in protecting Isaac and in providing a substitute so he would not have to die. Because of our sins and our mortality, we, like Isaac, are condemned to death. When all other hope is gone, our Father in Heaven provides the Lamb of God, and we are saved by his sacrifice. (Ensign, Nov. 1992, 37)
What did Abraham prove through this test?
Hugh B. Brown: “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham.”
Why is this necessary? What can we do now to prepare ourselves for the sacrifices that the Lord may ask us to make?
Church News “Sacred Sacrifices” (Nov 28, 2009)
David C. Dollahite is a professor in BYU's School of Family Life. In the November 2009 issue of Journal of Adolescent Research he published an article entitled "Giving Up Something Good for Something Better: Sacred Sacrifices Made by Religious Youth" wherein he examines the types of sacrifices made by youth and young adults from a wide swath of faiths and their motivations for making those sacrifices.
He cited research by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton as being illustrative of the fact that, although most teens profess a belief in divinity, a prevalent form of casual Christianity requiring no personal sacrifice and amounting to what Smith and Denton call "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" engulfs a large chunk of young adults.
"For many adolescents, their faith is about having a kind of 'cosmic butler' to meet their needs and answer their prayers and take care of them when they're in trouble," Professor Dollahite said. "A lot of youth and young adults in America take their faith fairly casually and are focused on themselves. Not surprisingly, their approach towards religion tends to be, 'What can religion do for me?'
"What was interesting to me," he said, "was that a lot of kids focused on how living their faith gave them a sense of identity and a sense of confidence. They knew that they were doing things differently from what other kids were doing, but they were OK with that. They felt pretty happy about their unique religious identity that came largely through their sacrifices."
What do you want to say you have done at the end of 2010?
What do you want to have become?
What do you want others to notice in you? (Preach My Gospel, page 152)
How can we seek God, making our relationship with him active rather than passive? How can we make our commitment to God more consistent so that we seek him in times of peace and comfort as well as in times of trial?
6th Lecture on Faith
[Lec 6:2b] An actual knowledge to any person that the course of life which he pursues is according to the will of God, is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God, without which no person can obtain eternal life.
Those then who make the sacrifice will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God,
[Lec 6:10b] and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life,
[Lec 6:10c] and will be enabled through faith to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, requires more than mere belief or supposition that he is doing the will of God, but actual knowledge;
Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation;
[Lec 6:7b] for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things;
Further Study Questions:
Question: Why is Isaac referred to in Geneiss 22:16 as Abraham’s only son?
Question: What blessings were assured to Abraham because of his faithfulness?
Question: What blessings are we promised through the Abrahamic covenant?
Question: What are our responsibilities as heirs of the Abrahamic covenant?
No comments:
Post a Comment