Why did God ask Abraham to kill his son?
"Take your son, your only son-- yes, Isaac, whom you love so much-- and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you."( Genesis 22:2 )
How it all started...
Promise of God
Let's revisit the past and explore events that unfolded years ago. Here is a reflection on the promises that God made to Abraham at that time.
And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants." But God replied, "No-- Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year."( Genesis 17:16,19,21 )
God's commitment is to establish a covenant with Isaac, the only son born to Sarah. This promise predates Isaac's birth, indicating God's clear intention to preserve Isaac's life. However, let's examine Abraham's reaction to God's promise.
Abraham exhibits a lack of faith in God's message.
Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. "How could I become a father at the age of 100?" he thought. "And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?"( Genesis 17:17 )
Abraham's actions do not reflect a strong faith in God.
Abraham still does not trust in God.
Later, God reiterated His promise to Abraham. This time, Abraham did not express any doubt, although Sarah did.
Then one of them said, "I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!" Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, "How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master-- my husband-- is also so old?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?'( Genesis 18:10-13 )
Can we now affirm that Abraham truly has faith in God? If he did, God wouldn't need to reiterate His promise. Furthermore, the subsequent verse indicates that Abraham still lacks trust in God, as he deceives Abimelech, the king of Gerar, by falsely claiming that Sarah is his sister. This act suggests Abraham's concern that his death could jeopardize the fulfillment of God's promise, given that without him, there would be no Isaac.
Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.( Genesis 20:2 )
Abraham replied, "I thought, 'This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.'( Genesis 20:11 )
A year later, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son, just as He had assured. Did this event alter Abraham's faith in God?
The evidence that affirms Abraham's exceptionally strong faith in God, surpassing our imagination.
Years later, when Isaac had grown, God made a shocking request to Abraham. Surprisingly, Abraham responded promptly and executed precisely what God had commanded. Despite Abraham's deep love for his son Isaac, his only child with Sarah, he did not withhold him from God.
"Take your son, your only son-- yes, Isaac, whom you love so much-- and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.( Genesis 22:2,3,9,10 )
"Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son."( Genesis 22:12 )
This moment in the Bible is profoundly significant, not solely for its ethical aspects, which usually captivate people's attention.
Initially, God had a complete understanding of Abraham—his capabilities and limitations—before making the request. Similarly, God possesses foreknowledge of everyone else before any actions or words take place.
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.( Psalms 139:2-4 )
At the same time, Abraham holds unwavering faith in God, confident that God's promises will be fulfilled. He undoubtedly understands that God will uphold His pledge to establish a covenant with Isaac and his descendants. Therefore, in Abraham's conviction, Isaac cannot perish outright. If death occurs, Abraham trusts in God's ability to bring Isaac back to life or to intervene in a way that aligns with His promise. Abraham expresses this unwavering trust, stating that both he and Isaac will return, anticipating that God will provide the necessary sacrifice.
"Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the servants. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back."( Genesis 22:5 )
Isaac turned to Abraham and said, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied."We have the fire and the wood," the boy said, "but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?" "God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.( Genesis 22:7-8 )
This demonstration of Abraham's faith is presented for us, the readers of the Bible, to underscore the depth of the faith exhibited by the individual chosen by God. It serves to emphasize the profound significance of Abraham's actions and faith for all of us.
And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed-- all because you have obeyed me."( Genesis 22:18 )
Abraham did not sacrifice his son; rather, it was God who sacrificed his...
While Abraham believed that his son would ultimately be alive, the specifics of how and when remained unknown. Isaac, in a sense, was 'dead' for Abraham during the prolonged three-day journey to the mountain designated by God, and 'rose' on the third day at its conclusion. This poignant parallel echoes the crucifixion and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus, who was crucified and rose on the third day.
On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.( Genesis 22:4 )
He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.( 1 Corinthians 15:4 )
Without grasping the profound love and fear that compelled Abraham to be willing to sacrifice his son, we may struggle to comprehend God's love for us. God, too, gave His only son to endure the cross for our salvation.
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.( John 3:16 )