The Sacrifice of Isaac
22:1 Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. 22:2 God said, “Take your son – your only son, whom you love, Isaac – and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”
22:3 Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.
22:4 On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place in the distance. 22:5 So he said to his servants, “You two stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go up there. We will worship and then return to you.”
22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. 22:7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father?” “What is it, my son?” he replied. “Here is the fire and the wood,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 22:8 “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.
22:9 When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 22:10 Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son. 22:11 But the Lord’s angel called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. 22:12 “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.”
22:13 Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord provides.” It is said to this day, “In the mountain of the Lord provision will be made.”
22:15 The Lord’s angel called to Abraham a second time from heaven 22:16 and said, “‘I solemnly swear by my own name,’ decrees the Lord, ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 22:17 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies. 22:18 Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.’”
22:19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set out together for Beer Sheba where Abraham stayed.22:20 After these things Abraham was told, “Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor – 22:21 Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22:22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 22:23 (Now Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.) These were the eight sons Milcah bore to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 22:24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore him children – Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
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I have a couple of thoughts. First, what a touching story. Here was Abraham, doing what God asked of him without question; without a flinch. If I were Abraham, I would have said, "Lord, why did you give me this son if you were just going to have me kill him?" But Abraham didn't say a thing, he simply obeyed God. What a lesson in obedience. Which brings me to my second thought...
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of obedience, why would and how could Abraham offer his only son to God without question, but earlier couldn't even obey God for more "trivial" matters, such as waiting for God to give him a son (instead he had Ishmael with Hagar)? And what about asking Sarah to call him her brother? He didn't obey God there, either. It just seems to me that he had his priorities backwards. Either way, the point is he obeyed in the end. Was this a result of spiritual growth for Abraham?
Jacklyn I am glad that you commented first because it made me think (and admittedly do some additional research). While reading the commentary I was struck by a combination of your comment and the author's comments. Both got me on this track. God understands the anguish any parent would have at the thought of sacrificing their son. In fact, although God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his "only son", he did not have to go through with it. But God did with His sacrifice of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI think, and the commentary adds, that God wasn't mean or evil or perhaps even "testing" when He commanded Abraham. If anything he was prompting the understanding and emotion in us (especially as parents) to what He was going to eventually do to His son, for our atonement.
So now I think, "how much pain and agony would it be for me to sacrifice one of my children for a Holy and righteous God." Something imperfect as a gift to someone perfect. God does the opposite and actually sacrifices someone perfect for all us who are imperfect.
The more I read and the more I meditate on what God has done, said or given to me the more I am astonished at His wisdom, passion and love. Wow - thank you for sharing all this with me. I hope it continues to inspire me to grow more like you.