The Jesse Tree Family Devotional
A 25 day ADVENT-ure through the Bible
Have you ever seen a family tree? Maybe you’ve seen one on the wall of a big historic house or castle? Or do you have a family member who loves history and has mapped out all of your family going back through the years? This devotional is based on the family tree of a man in the Bible called Jesse - hence The Jesse Tree - and is inspired by some verses in Isaiah 11.
We hope you enjoy learning about some key figures and important stories in the family of Jesse and his most famous descendant - Jesus!
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Family Devotional
Below you’ll see what we’re reading today as part of The Jesse Tree Family Devotional alongside some some questions to discuss and then a suggestion of how to respond and pray together as a family about what you’ve learnt. To go forward or back a day in the reading plan just click on the buttons.
Day 05
Abraham is tested
Do you remember from yesterday that Abram was concerned about not having an heir? Thankfully, God blessed him with a son named Isaac (which means 'one who laughs'). A child's birth, especially one long-awaited, brings immense joy. Isaac is one such child, but as he grew up his father, Abraham, was tested by God. This is the story of that test.
Read Genesis 22
Chat
- Verse 1 makes it clear that God’s request is a specific type of request. What is it?
- In verse 7 Isaac rightly questions where the lamb for the sacrifice is, what is Abraham’s response in verse 8?
- In verse 18 God tells Abraham something about his offspring, what is it?
Pray
Father God, thank You that You are completely trustworthy. Thank You that even when we don’t know what Your plan is, You have everything under control. Help us to trust You today. Amen.
Genesis 22
1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied. 2Then 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.” 3Early 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. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5He 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.” 6Abraham 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, 7Isaac 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?” 8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9When 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. 10Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But 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.” 13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So 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.” 15The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I 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, 18and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” 19Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.20Some time later Abraham was told, “Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel.” 23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milkah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maakah.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)
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