22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
Late in the Midnight Hour God’s Going to Turn it Around!
What would be your answer if someone asked is God first in your life??? What if God asked you to prove that He is first in your life??? What if God asked for your son, the one you waited your whole life to have??? Would you be able to say, “Yes Lord,” or would you withhold your son?
Abraham not only trusted God with his life but he also trusted God with his son’s life. Even when Isaac asked where is the sacrifice Abraham replied “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Still trusting God, Abraham bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Oh, to have the confidence in God that Abraham had. He trusted God above everything, even his son’s life.
Lord, teach me. Show me your Word. Aluminate my path. Help me to choose you above all else. Late in the midnight hour, when Abraham took the knife to slay his son, God was there with him to save Isaac. Dear God even late in the midnight hour help me to stand firm and wait for you to turn it around.
Midnight Hour (here’s a link to a gospel song that blesses my heart)
Worship
Judges 5:3
Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.
Supplies:
- TV or a music account and a speaker
- worship scarves
- instruments
Everyone needs to be up, standing on their feet, including teachers and helpers. Children naturally look to the adults in the room and mimic their behavior. Place the bucket of instruments and scarves in the middle of the room and have the children and adults pick an instrument. Start the music and encourage the children to worship the Lord with dance, instruments and song.
NOTE: Sometimes the pink scarves can cause trouble with the girls in your class. Lots of tears 😦 trying to keep a worship filled environment is difficult at this point. Either hide the offensive pink scarf or buy enough pick scarfs for each little girl.
Here are songs that your children will enjoy!
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Crafts
Lamb Mask
Supplies:
- Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- Glue
- Card Stock
- String for Mask
- Hole punch
- Lamb Mask worksheet, here
Directions:
- Print one Lamb Mask worksheet for each child on card stock, here
- Cut out the Lamb Mask from the worksheet.
- Have the children color the Lamb Mask.
- Hole punch the circles by each ear.
- Glue cotton balls on the lamb’s head.
- When dry fit mask to childs head with string.
Ram
Supplies:
- Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- Glue
- Card Stock
- Cotton Ballls
- Ram worksheet, here
Directions:
- Print one Ram worksheet for each child on card stock, here
- Cut out the Ram from the worksheet.
- Have the children color the Ram.
- Glue cotton balls on the Ram.
Little Steps 