Tuesday, December 12, 2006

"[God] said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me" (Genesis 22:12).

IDEA: There are different kinds of knowledge.

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand how God could know and yet not know.

There is a statement in Genesis 22:12 that explains why God tested Abraham: "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

What bothers you about God making that statement?

I. How could God say that He knew something He didn't know?

When we say that God is omniscient, what does omniscience mean?

Can God add to His knowledge?

Then what does the statement mean?

II. There is a difference between cognitive knowledge and experienced knowledge.

There is evidence throughout the Bible that God wants us to act on our faith regardless of the fact that He knows our hearts.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then, is how you should pray." Does that strike you as strange?

God knows how we feel about Him. Then why does He want us to praise Him?

Do you think that your spouse and kids know you love them? Then why is it important to tell them?

Knowledge in our heads is far less satisfying than knowledge that is expressed.

God wanted Abraham to demonstrate his faith in actions.