The Promise Foreshadowed

Genesis 22:1-19

December 2, 2007

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Study Guide

Christmas Series: The Promise of Christmas

Last week: The Promise Whispered – Genesis 3:15
This week: The Promised Foreshadowed – Genesis 22

Four Ways Genesis 22 foreshadows the promise of Christmas

1. God’s promise of Christmas is born out of his loving heart.

“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love...” –Genesis 22:2

Abraham’s character makes a stunning statement of God’s love for you!

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” -1 John 4:9

The promise of Christmas is pulsating with divine love for you.

2. God’s promise of Christmas will come through the birth of a son to a barren woman (Genesis 22:15-16).

The birth story of Isaac resembles the birth stories of Samuel and John the Baptist all pointing to how the promise of Christmas will be born.

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”  "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"  -Luke 1:31, 34

3. God’s promise of Christmas requires a sacrifice (Genesis 22:6-8, 13-14).
“...He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” - Colossians 1:22

God provided the ultimate and final sacrifice...the life of his son...his one and only son instead of your life.  

4. Gods’ promise of Christmas offers a blessing to the whole world (Genesis 22:17-18).

"Offspring" = "seed"

• Mary - Luke 1:54-55
• Zechariah - Luke 1:72-74
• Simeon - Luke 2:30-32

Have you embraced God’s promise of Christmas?