Scripture: Proverbs 16:9; Genesis 11:29a, 30; 12:1-2, 4-5a; 15:1-2a, 4a, 5-6; 21:2-3; 22:1-18; Hebrews 11:1, 8-13, 16-19; Proverbs 16:2-4a, 9

Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.

Genesis 11:29a Abram's wife was named Sarai, … 30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.

Genesis 12:1 The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing… 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5a He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan…

Genesis 15:1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2a But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I am childless… 4a Now the word of the LORD came to him: … 5 He took him outside and said, "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He said to him, "Your offspring will be that numerous." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 21:2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him-- the one Sarah bore to him-- Isaac.

Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he answered. 2 "Take your son," He said, "your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together. 7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father." And he replied, "Here I am, my son." Isaac said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Then the two of them walked on together. 9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" He replied, "Here I am." 12 Then He said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me." 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said: "It will be provided on the LORD's mountain." 15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn," this is the LORD's declaration: "Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies. 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command (because of your faith)."

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For our ancestors won God's approval by it… 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. 12 Therefore from one man-- in fact, from one as good as dead-- came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth… 16 But they now desire a better place-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, 18 the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, and as an illustration, he received him back.

Proverbs 16:2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives. 3 Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved. 4a The LORD has prepared everything for His purpose-- 9 A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.