“The Binding of Isaac”
Summary of lesson set:
- Background Material for Leaders
- Storytelling - tell the story and raise big questions
- Art Workshop - Collages of our Favorite Things - with a reflection on what it would feel like to sacrifice some of them
- Drama Workshop - contemporary skit (may be best performed (or recorded) by older students for younger students)
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 22:1-19
Rotation Objectives:
At the end of this unit,
- kids should be able to tell the story of Abraham and Isaac
- comprehend that sometimes God calls us to do things we don't understand, but that we can always question God;
- give thanks for all that God has given us.
Background for Leaders
Scripture:
Genesis 22:1-19
This is a really tough unit, but it’s a really important story to talk about, so we're going to plunge ahead.
The story of Abraham and Sarah is kind of like a play in 3 acts.
- Act 1 is the call to a new place, and a test of whether Abraham and Sarah will trust God with that.
- Act 2 is the promise of a son, and the test of whether Abraham and Sarah will trust God with that.
- Act 3 is the hardest test of all – God asked Abraham and Sarah to take this promised, hoped-for, long-awaited son, and sacrifice him on an altar. In some ways, it feels like a repudiation of the other promises of God – a place and a multitude of descendants. As adults, we are definitely challenged by this story: did God lead us to this place for THIS kind of suffering? What kind of loving God does that?
That is hard, and scary, and terrifying to imagine for kids AND grown-ups. Parents are supposed to love and protect their children from all harm. This story appears to fly in the face of that promise on both ends – for the children to feel safe with their parents and for parents to feel safe that God will not ask them to give up their children.
In the Christian tradition, the parallel is made between the fact that while Abraham was called to sacrifice his son, at the last minute a ram is provided, whereas God offers God’s only son Jesus, to be sacrificed. Many people reject atonement theology as abhorrent – as if God can only be appeased by some sort of human sacrifice. This is not how we understand God’s working in redemption. Jesus willingly chose to offer himself to the people as a living witness to God’s love, power, and justice, and as a result of that he got killed.
So we want to steer clear of putting too much weight to that interpretation in these lessons. Yes, there is a compare/contrast situation here – in both cases, a son is offered. But in Isaac’s case, he is being offered up to be killed, whereas Jesus is being offered up to reveal true life. And, indeed, at the last minute God stays Abraham’s hand, stopping this sacrifice.
And yes, this story is about obedience, and Abraham’s radical trust in God that promises would be fulfilled, even though what he is asked to do doesn’t make sense. But there’s stuff there for kids to learn about, also. How often do we ask our kids to do something that may make perfect sense to us, but makes no sense to our children? On the one hand, this story helps illustrate how sometimes obedience makes sense, even if we don’t understand the “why” behind it.
But on the other hand, that leads to all sorts of wretchedness. It is good to ask why – and one of my enduring questions about this story is WHY didn’t Abraham ask God WHY he was being asked to do this? It seems disingenuous to simply accept that it was “just faith” – because Abraham sure didn’t do a lot of things on blind faith (for one thing, he had this bad habit of, whenever they went into a foreign land, calling his wife his sister and even letting her marry local kings). I don’t have a satisfying answer for this question.
Also, in this lesson set, it will be especially important that we not even give the impression that there are “right” answers. Particularly in the oldest students' class, where students are pondering deeply and perhaps even questioning lots of things, to be given the impression that there’s a right way and a wrong way to understand this story is just DEADLY to conversation, learning, and exploration. So invite the students to bring their questions to this story, to raise them, and don’t be in a hurry to answer the questions, even if you think you have a good answer. This is a time where, for all our kids, we should be constantly asking, “What do you think?” and listening to their answers. Let them wrestle with the story.
I find it fascinating that Jewish interpretations of this story call it “the Binding of Isaac,” whereas Christians typically call it “the Sacrifice of Isaac,” even though Isaac isn’t actually sacrificed!! What a difference that one word makes. “Binding” is different than “sacrifice” – what can we do with that?
The Binding of Isaac Storytelling Lesson
This was written as an introduction to share with students either as a whole group, all on the first day of the unit. The story is told & big questions are raised. (You could hold concurrent Storytelling Workshops if necessary, to keep the number of participants reasonable for discussion purposes. Or have different groups attend the storytelling workshop different weeks, as the Bible story is read in each of the lessons.)
SAY: Our story begins with God asking Abraham to take his son, “his only son, whom [he] love[d]” and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain.
Read Genesis 22:1-3.
SAY: This is the first time the Bible mentions love between humans. This is a good place to start.
ASK: Who and what do we love?
How do you think it would feel to be asked to give up something you love?
SAY: Remember that Abraham had been promised this son, and that a multitude of nations would call him “ancestor.” Now it seems like God is “taking back” that promise. God isn’t taking back the promise because of anything wrong Abraham did…the story just says that “God tested Abraham.”
ASK: Can you think of something you have that you don’t think you could live without? (A teddy bear, a gift from Grandma, etc.)
What do you think it would be like if you had to destroy that thing, or get rid of it, because of something wrong you did? (Probably you’d feel pretty bad about it.)
And what if you were told you had to get rid of it EVEN IF you hadn’t done anything wrong, or no one gave you a reason why you had to get rid of it? (You’d probably still feel bad, but you might also feel mad, angry, confused, etc.)
Why do you think God tests Abraham in this way?
Have you ever been tested by God?
What was that like?
SAY: So Abraham has a heavy and sad heart (use whatever other adjectives the kids use in describing how THEY would feel if they were asked to give up something they loved) when he decides to obey God and take his son up the mountain. Let’s see what happens next.
Read Genesis 22:4-8.
SAY: Isaac realizes that they are missing a key part of the sacrifice – the lamb! Abraham doesn’t really answer his son, he just says, “God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.”
ASK: Have you ever asked a question of an adult and not gotten a clear answer?
What does that feel like?
Read Genesis 22:9-11.
SAY: YIKES!!! Here the story gets really, really scary! Abraham has tied his son to the altar. I interpret this “binding” as a way of Abraham binding Isaac to God. Our parents “bind” us to God by having us baptized, by bringing us to Sunday School, by encouraging us to go through Confirmation, and by challenging us to stick with church even when it isn’t always fun or easy.
ASK: Do your parents ever make you do things you don’t want to do?
If you looked back on some of the things you’ve been asked to do, do you now think it was sometimes a good idea for your mom and dad to make you brush your teeth, or go to school, or come to church, even if you didn’t want to do those things?
Then, just when things look scariest for Isaac, there is a voice from heaven that says, “Abraham, Abraham!!” What do you think is going to happen next?
SAY: Let’s find out!
Read Genesis 22:12-14.
SAY: WHEW!!! Isaac is going to live after all! The angel tells Abraham not to touch Isaac or do anything to him, and suddenly, there is a ram caught in a thicket that they use to sacrifice to God. (Animal sacrifice was a common way that people in the ancient world offered prayers to God.)
ASK: Aren’t you glad we don’t do that anymore?)
How do you feel about the story right now?
How do you feel about Abraham? Isaac? God?
Read: Let’s keep reading: Genesis22:15-19
SAY: In this reading, God confirms the earlier promises, that Abraham will have descendants (children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and so on) more numerous than the stars of heaven. Remember that we are “Abraham’s stars” even to this day. Christians, Jews and Muslims all trace their ancestry to Abraham so people of all those religions are counted as his children.
ASK: Does God ever ask us to do anything wrong?
Do people sometimes ask us to do something that we know is wrong?
What do we do when that happens?
What if an adult, especially an adult you’ve been told to trust, asks you to do something you think is wrong (not just something you don’t want to do, something you think is WRONG)? Is it okay for us as kids to say "no" to grown-ups? (Here there is a right answer, and the correct answer is YES!!!!)
How would the story have been different if Abraham had said “no”?
Here are some other questions for reflection. Don’t jump too quickly to them – but ask what questions the kids have about the story first. This story challenges us to think about lots of questions:
ASK:
- What is sacrifice all about?
- Why would God test Abraham so harshly?
- Would Abraham have gone through with it?
- What would you have done?
Remind them that God does not ask parents to sacrifice their children – God gives parents children so that the parents can love and protect them, and help them grow up. Also, God gives children parents to show them about love and care, and how to be faithful grown-ups. Parents and children aren’t perfect, but what God wants most of all is for us to LOVE each other and to take care of each other.
If there is still time, kids can have some free time or draw/color.
CLOSE with prayer: God, thank you for loving us, and for giving us parents and grandparents to teach us what love looks like. Help us love each other and take care of one another. Amen.
Binding of Isaac Drama Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
A contemporary skit (adapted from material originally posted at Rotation.org, by Abby Rosser).
Consider having older students (or youth) perform (or record) this drama for younger students who can't read the script.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 22:1-19
Leader Preparation:
- Read the scripture ahead of time.
- Go over the script, adapt as needed, and make copies.
- Gather the materials.
Supply List:
- Remote control
- Apron
- Bowl and spoon
- Hammer
- Toolbelt
- Robot costume
- Camera (or phone) to record the skit and TV setup for playback - see helpful tips
LESSON
Welcome and Lesson Introduction:
Greet the children and introduce yourself.
Open with a prayer.
Dig-Main Content and Reflection:
Drama Lesson:
Read Genesis 22:1-8 and ask the following questions:
- What did God ask Abraham to do? (sacrifice his son)
- What did Isaac notice that they were missing? (the lamb)
- How did Abraham explain this? (God will provide)
Read Genesis 22:9-14 and ask the following questions:
- What did Abraham do to Isaac? (bound him and placed him on the altar)
- What stopped Abraham from killing his son? (the voice of an angel)
- What did the angel say? (“Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.")
- What did Abraham see? (a ram)
- What did Abraham call the place? (The Lord will provide or Jehovah Jireh)
Discussion:
Why do you think God used Isaac as a test for Abraham? Are there some things that you would never be willing to sacrifice?
Pass out the scripts and assign parts.
Rehearse. Perform and record the drama.
Closing:
Play back the drama.
Discuss how this story relates to the story of Abraham and Isaac.
Close with prayer.
SKIT SCRIPT
Characters:
Friend #1
Friend #2
Chef
Carpenter
Announcer voice (offstage)
Robot
Mom voice (offstage)
(If more characters are needed for a larger class, have a group of kids watching TV together. You can also have more than one carpenter in the home improvement show.)
Props/Costumes:
Remote control
Apron
Bowl and spoon
Hammer
Toolbelt
Robot costume
Setting: Two friends are sitting on one side of the stage, flipping through the channels watching bits of different shows and commercials. The TB spots are acted out center stage. You may want to leave the curtain closed so that the actors in the commercials can enter and exit quickly from the audience’s view through the flap in the center of the curtain.
Friend #1: Let’s see what’s on TV tonight.
(Friend #1 points remote toward center stage and clicks.)
Friend #2: Hey, it’s that cooking show that I like.
(Chef enters carrying bowl and spoon.)
Chef: …now after you have beaten your eggs, (stir bowl) it’s time to add the anchovies…
Friend #1: Yuck. No way. (clicks again.)
(Chef exits.)
Friend #2: What else is on?
(Carpenter enters carrying hammer.)
Friend #1: It’s that show where they fix up houses…
Carpenter: Okay, we finished the walls in the bathroom and the floor is tiled. Now we’ll show you how to install a toilet…
Friend #2: Nah. I don’t really want to see that.
Friend #1: Yeah. Me neither. (clicks again.)
(Carpenter exits.)
Friend #2: Hey. What’s that?
(Robot enters.)
Friend #1: It looks like a commercial for a robot…
Announcer: Tired of never getting what you want? Ready to have your every wish granted? Then it’s time to get your very own M.E.-1 3000, the robot of the future!
(Robot moves in a robotic way while announcer talks.)
Robot: (in a robotic voice) I am here to make your dreams come true.
Announcer: Why should you have to share that last cookie with your sister? Why should you have to take turns on the swings during recess? Why should you have to let your little brother pick what TV show you watch?
Robot: (in a robotic voice) With the M.E.-1 3000, you can have your way every time.
Announcer: This is your life. It shouldn’t be about sacrifice!
(Friend #1 turns TV off and robot exits.)
Friend #1: You know that robot sounds pretty good to me.
Friend #2: Yeah, I guess it would be nice to get your way all of the time, but putting other people first shows them how much they mean to you.
Friend #1: And God wants us to put God before anybody else, especially ourselves.
Friend #2: It’s like that story we learned in Sunday school about Abraham and his son Isaac.
Friend #1: That’s right. Abraham was ready to do anything for God—even give up future glory through his son, Isaac.
Friend #2: Sacrifice isn’t supposed to be easy, but God does find a way to bless us even in the middle of hard times.
Friend #1: Just like God sent that ram to Abraham so that he didn’t have to sacrifice Isaac after all.
Mom (voice offstage): I need someone to come and set the table!
Both Friends: Coming!
Friend #1: Hey, I’ll set the table tonight and you can keep watching TV.
Friend #2: No, that’s okay. I’ll do it.
Friend #1: No really—I don’t mind…
(They continue back and forth as they exit the stage.)
Abraham and Isaac Collage Art Workshop
Summary of Lesson Activities:
Collages of our favorite things accompanied by a discussion of which we would sacrifice.
Scripture Reference:
Genesis 22:1-19
Leader Preparation:
- Read the scripture ahead of time.
- Gather the materials.
Supplies:
- magazines
- pens
- crayons
- whatever else you have on hand for collages
- glue
- scissors
- heavy-duty construction paper or cardstock
LESSON
Welcome and Lesson Introduction:
As always, begin welcoming students.
Retell the story with their help.
Main Content and Reflection:
Invite the students to first make a list of some of their favorite “things” – things they would find it hard to live without. Then invite them to find or make pictures of those things. They should come up with at least 10 items that are really important to them (“family” or “pets” or “friends” can count as 1 thing).
BEFORE GLUING those things into a collage, ask students to share what they have in their list of ten. Let everyone have a chance to share. Then, ask students to take away three things from those ten and set them in a separate pile – these are things they have to give up in order to keep the other 7. Ask for volunteers to share what they gave up.
After students have shared this, they have to remove 2 more, leaving 5 behind. Again, ask for volunteers to share what it feels like to remove those things.
Then, ask them to remove 2 more things, leaving three. Then 1 more thing, leaving 2. Then 1 more, leaving one item remaining. At each point, ask students to share what the 1 thing is that remains on their list, and to share why that one thing remains.
Parents, don’t be offended if “family” is not the final thing remaining – and please don’t joke about that with your children. They will not find it funny, even if you are lighthearted about it.
Also - an FYI for YOU, but not necessarily to share with the students: It is not uncommon in this activity for students to have trouble coming up with 10 things…but observe that even for the students who have the hardest time getting to 10 items also have a hard time removing items.
Ask students to share what this experience felt like. Even though they aren’t being asked to REALLY give up those things, it sure feels like it. And it might be pretty painful. Explain that in our walk of faith, sometimes we are called to give up things that are really important to us.
Abraham felt as though he were being asked to give up not only his son, but also his future, his name, all that God promised. What do you think that must have felt like for Abraham? Do you think he felt similar to how you feel now?
Fortunately for Abraham, God did not demand that Abraham sacrifice Isaac (or his name, or his descendants) just as no one is asking you to really give up these things, too!
Invite the kids to glue all their 10 items on a collage and have them put their names on it!
Closing:
Close with a prayer giving thanks to God for all that we have, and for the gift of faith, that helps us persevere even when we are asked to give up important things.
Writer's notes:
This is a lesson set I prepared for our Sunday school classes in the spring of 2011. It incorporates elements of lessons from others here on rotation.org, but we've made it our own. We are a small, progressive UCC congregation and the theology reflects that.
A lesson written by Rev. Elizabeth Dilley from: First Congregational UCC, Red Oak, IA
A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.
