Abraham: An Original Love Story (Bible Study Series by Beth Moore)

By Unknown - Bible Pictures with brief descriptions by Charles Foster, published in 1897, Philadelphia, PA, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10962699

We are now in day 4 of our Beth Moore Bible study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place.  Today, we are looking at the story of Abraham and his sacrifice, the sacrifice that was almost his son.  You might be wondering what all this history has to do with a Bible study about a woman’s heart.  Truth be told, I’m still wondering how Beth will tie all this wisdom and knowledge together as well.  However, I’m enjoying the Biblical history as I watch it all come together.  I do know this.  Beth’s overall theme for A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place is to emphasize that God’s desire is to dwell among us.  She finds this truth in scripture from Genesis all the way through the building of the tabernacle.  Beth takes us through Biblical history to lay the foundation for the whole study.  During week 1, she wants us to answer 5 questions:

1.  Why were the Israelites to build the tabernacle?
2. What is the human heart like apart from fellowship with God?
3. how did God respond to what He saw at the tower of Babel?
4. What did God preach to Abraham?
5. By what name did God tell Moses to call Him to the Israelites?

We began to answer these questions in our previous lessons:
The Introduction
Day 1: The Empty Garden
Day 2: A Perfect Heart
Day 3: A People for His Name

Abraham:  An Original Love Story

Now, we’re at day 4, The Original Love Story. We begin with a scripture verse from Genesis 22:2.

Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. – Genesis 22:2

Genesis 22 is particularly beautiful to me because paints a beautiful picture of the gospel of Jesus.  God gave Abraham a first hand personal glimpse into the future – a glimpse into the message of salvation for future generations.

To summarize Genesis 22:

God tells Abraham to take his only son, Isaac, to the land of Moriah and offer him up as a sacrifice.  The next morning, Abraham got up early, saddled his donkey, split wood for the sacrifice, and took Isaac and two of his men to the place where God told him to go.  As Abraham and Isaac walked to the place of sacrifice, Isaac, carrying the wood asked his father, “Father (Daddy), we have the wood and a knife, but where is the lamb for the offering?”

Abraham answered, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the offering.”

When they came to the place of sacrifice, Abraham built an alter, arranged the wood, and then bound his son, Isaac, and laid him on the alter.  Just as Abraham was about to slay Isaac with the knife, an angel appeared to Him and said to Abraham, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.  Abraham then took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering in place of his son.

Abraham named the place The Lord Will Provide.

The angel came to Abraham a second time and said to Abraham,

By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.  In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My voice.

My favorite Beth Moore quote from today’s Bible study is this: 

“The very heart of the gospel is realizing that God did not simply provide a sacrifice for us but instead of us.  That is the good news.  There is only one way to receive it after we have understood it – with profound humility and gratitude.  Maybe even on our knees.”

 Read all posts in this series here.

If you would like to go through the complete Bible study, I encourage you to purchase A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore here.  In order to protect Beth’s work, I will only summarize what I learn, but you will get glimpses into Beth’s wisdom and you will, hopefully, decide to complete the entire Bible study on your own. If you complete the study on your own or if you host a study, you'll need the complete leader kit which contains the DVDs.  You can get the complete leader kit here.

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A People for His Name - (Bible Study by Beth Moore)

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A People for His Name

Beth Moore takes us through this study because she feels it is important to realize and appreciate the history between the days of Noah and the Tower of Babel, events leading up to God’s plan to build a tabernacle.  If we didn’t already know it, we learn in this study that Abram (Abraham) was a direct descendant of Noah’s son, Shem.

In Genesis chapter 11, we read that the whole earth used one language.  In those days, the people wanted to build a tower to make a name for themselves and so that they would not be scattered.  However, God confused their language and scattered the people.  God wants His people to be devoted to His name, not their own.

God values each one of us.  He calls us by name.

Moreover whom he did predestine, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. – Romans 8:30

I agree with Beth when she writes, “If you consider yourself Christian, consider yourself called.”

Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it. – Colossians 4:17

If you are reading this today and you consider yourself a Christian, listen for His calling.  Realize your ministry so that you can dedicate your heart and your life to doing what He has called you to do – devoting your heart, God’s dwelling place, to serving Him.

To enjoy the full Bible study A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place, I encourage you to order your own copy here.  Learn about historical events leading up to the building of the tabernacle.  Then, learn how a woman’s heart is patterned after it.

Read all posts in this series here.

If you are leading a study or doing the study on your own, you'll need the complete leader kit which includes the DVDs.

Get the Leader Kit Here.

 

A Perfect Heart - A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place Bible Study by Beth Moore

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A Perfect Heart

The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9

We were each created fore a special purpose.  He wanted us.

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made. – Isaiah 43:7

My favorite quote from this lesson:  Of all the grandeur Heaven could boast, God measures His riches by His children.  We are His wealth, the apple of His eye, created to be His treasure. – Beth Moore

Matthew 6:21 tells us that where our heart is, our treasure will be there also.  God’s heart is where His treasure is.  We are His treasure.  His heart is with us.

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Our human hearts are deceitful.

The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?  – Jeremiah 17:9

The imperfect, deceitful condition of the human heart is the reason God wants us to give our whole heart to Him.

Adam and Eve were gifted with the perfect circumstances for successfully living a holy life free from sin, yet they still made poor choices.  Even under perfect circumstances, they could not maintain perfectly pure hearts.

Only God can change the condition of the human heart.

Whether or not to honor God is a choice we all must make.  Even under the worst of circumstances, Noah still walked with God.  Noah chose to honor God in spite of all the evil around him.

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15 

God desires us.  His heart is perfect.  Our hearts can only be perfected in Him.  Our hearts are His dwelling place.

To reap the benefits of Beth Moore’s full Bible Study lessons, I encourage you to purchase your own copy and go through each Bible study.  A group Bible study is recommended but you can go through this study individually if you wish.

Read all posts in this series here.

You can get the study book only here, but if you are doing the study alone or hosting it, you'll need the entire leader kit below.

This item is available here.