Consider Jehovah’s words to Abraham: “Take, please, your son, your only son whom you so love, Isaac, and . Abraham’s Long-Awaited Son.  |  He told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac. Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? Why Did God Ask Abraham to Sacrifice His Son? Attackers use the story of Abraham, his son Isaac and the averted sacrifice as proof that God is not good. Abraham did not sacrifice his son. Abraham tied Isaac and put him on the altar. Just as Abraham offered up his son, his only son, which he loved, so would God with Jesus Christ. 1 John 2. This sounds barbaric. Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son. When Abraham was at the age of 100, he was given a son by God unconditionally, but why did God ask him to offer Isaac after the boy grew up? This all leads up to the rebellion and scattering of the people from Babylon (Genesis 11). Why would a Loving God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? The text is careful to include both Abraham and Isaac in the return journey. . God can’t pretend death isn’t there. This seems more like parental neglect than faithful obedience. God loved Abraham. (Genesis 22:2) Some Bible readers struggle to understand that account. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Gen 22:12. Abraham and Isaac point beyond themselves to the Messiah. In choosing Abraham, God launches a plan to rescue the world. The Story Starts the Same as Others. Answer: Abraham had obeyed God many times in his walk with Him, but no test could have been more severe than the one in Genesis 22. Isaac, like Jesus, carried the wood up Mt. Abraham had obeyed God. Why would God promise him a son and then take the son away? If God is a God of love, how could he reward Abraham’s willingness to slaughter his only son? Why Did God Ask Abraham to Sacrifice His Son? I didn’t understand it until I read one passage of His words. Think about the parallels between this story and the story of Jesus. And what is the moral of the story (assuming it is a story)? What makes the gospel such good news is that God solves the problem of death, not by demanding the death of everything touched by the stain of evil but by offering himself instead. He probably figured that this God, who, at the time, was still in many ways new to Abraham, was probably like the other gods that people worshipped in that day. It also is an example of how God gives us hints in the past of what will happen in the future. To manipulate the gods into providing rain (but not too much), aiding in pregnancy, and keeping away disasters they would offer sacrifices. Share 47. The answer becomes clear when we see what the Scriptures teach. He is life, and we have chosen to live by our own standards. Some time later God tested Abraham. The prophetic implication is great. You can ask me questions like. November 13, 2013 by Joshua Tilghman 19 Comments. “Now it came about after … This points to the greater exchange that happens at the cross, the Son of God in place of us. Introduction. Once, he even asked God, “Will not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25) After this encounter, perhaps Abraham settled this question in his mind once and for all. ” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he. A Father Offers His Son: The True and Greater Sacrifice Revealed Through Abraham and Isaac by Scott LaPierre. Abraham responds, “God himself will provide the lamb” (Genesis 22:8). Most people aren’t disturbed by the outcome of Genesis 22. This begs the question: What son are we talking about here? I would struggle with what I would do if I were in his shoes. This sounds evil. And after decades of waiting, Isaac was born. God's request does not seem ethical or reasonable. He knew that he would provide an alternative sacrifice. Are we not moved to show our love for him in return? He provided a powerful demonstration of that future sacrifice by what he asked of Abraham. Many pagan cultures in Abraham’s time and throughout history have promoted human sacrifice. Yet, Jehovah did not shield “his own Son but delivered him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32) Why did Jehovah submit himself to such a terrible ordeal? 48 Shares. "Here I am," he replied. The story of Abraham and Isaac takes on a larger significance when you place it in the context of prophetic reenactment. The place of the sacrifice was Mount Moriah, which is most likely the exact same mountain where Jerusalem is built. Why Did God Ask Abraham to Sacrifice His Son? It seems Abraham prepared himself to do what God asked, but he expected something else to happen. So while our Sunday school teachers were right in saying that God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in order to test his faith, he also planned for Abraham to learn another lesson. Really, then, although we may recoil at the thought of what Jehovah asked Abraham to do, we are wise to remember that Jehovah did not allow that faithful patriarch to go through with the sacrifice. It just goes to prove your all knowing god would not had to done this nonsense if he knew what Abraham was going to do to begin with. Note, too, that Jehovah’s request to Abraham included the word “please.” One Bible scholar suggests that God’s use of this word indicates that “the LORD appreciates the costliness of what he is asking.” As we can imagine, that request would have grieved Abraham deeply; in a similar way, we can barely imagine the intense pain that Jehovah must have felt as he watched his beloved Son suffer and die. God asked Abraham to do this so that Abraham could demonstrate his obedience. In faith, Abraham took his son Isaac and was ready to offer him up as a sacrifice, trusting that God could indeed raise him up again and fulfill His promises to Abraham to bless all nations through the Seed of Abraham and Isaac (cf. Instead of a resurrection, Abraham was spared the sacrifice. God didn't introduce death into the equation; humanity did. Abraham obeyed God’s unexpected command because he trusted God’s promise and knew him to be good and trustworthy. The Bible has many difficult passages for modern readers, but few are more challenging than the moment when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac in Genesis 22. To answer these questions, we need to ponder the entire biblical story. Why Did God Command the Invasion of Canaan in the Book of Joshua? It says, “He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19). This comes in the very next chapter (Genesis 22) when God tells Abraham to take his beloved son and sacrifice him. Why Did God Tell Abraham To Sacrifice His Son? He said to him, "Abraham!" (Genesis 22:2) Some Bible readers struggle to understand that account. Why did there have to be a sacrifice? Just as God called the prophet Hosea to act the part of God in marrying a prostitute (Hosea 1) and told Ezekiel to lie on his side for over a year to symbolize the siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4), so God asked Abraham to play the part of God in the sacrifice of his own son. 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Amen Abraham. Why did god ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac? Couldn’t God just wave his hand and fix things? “What kind of God would ask such a thing?” While such feelings are understandable, we do well to keep a couple of points in mind. The answer begins with God’s covenant with Abraham. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." As you know, Abraham and his wife Sarah were childless and passed the age of reproduction when God announced to them the great news that they would have a child. God provides the sacrifice, which Abraham says will be a lamb (Genesis 22:8, John 1:29). Second, the Bible suggests that Jehovah had a special reason for asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. This all leads up to the rebellion and scattering of the people from Babylon (Genesis 11). THE WATCHTOWER January 2012, “I, Jehovah Your God, Am Grasping Your Right Hand”, She Acted Wisely, Bravely, and Selflessly. (Matthew 20:28) Jehovah wanted to convey to us just how much this sacrifice would cost him. Then you start asking different questions. Abraham must have been confused. In faith, Abraham took his son Isaac and was ready to offer him up as a sacrifice, trusting that God could indeed raise him up again and fulfill His promises to Abraham to bless all nations through the Seed of Abraham and Isaac (cf. Or consider Isaac’s question about where the lamb for the sacrifice would come from. But the long wait for Isaac wasn’t Abraham’s true test. Why did God order Abraham to sacrifice his son? In faith, Abraham took his son Isaac and was ready to offer him up as a sacrifice, trusting that God could indeed raise him up again and fulfill His promises to Abraham to bless all nations through the Seed of Abraham and Isaac (cf. John 3 He held the knife over Isaac. At best, it feels like a strange inconsistency. First of all, God says to Abraham to take his only son. Question: "Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?" God’s problem (and ours) is figuring out how to deal with it. How inconceivable! Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Abraham and Isaac. Let's go back in time and look into what happened years before. He did so in order that “we might gain life.” (1 John 4:9) What a powerful reminder of God’s love for us! First, consider what Jehovah did not do. God already knew what Abraham was willing to do, so while God called Abraham to sacrifice his son for the reasons already stated, he also accomplished one more thing: to demonstrate that human sacrifice is not what God wants, nor will God accept it. Share First God commands thou shall not kill. TERMS OF USE People often get misleading view of God because of this story. The most common belief is that by demanding a sacrifice from Abraham, God tested his faith, will, and loyalty in such way. . Jehovah wants all of his worshippers, including children, to continue living​—to enjoy a long and satisfying life. Abraham received his son back from "the dead" on the third day. God loved Abraham. God tests us to see where our heart is. https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/wp/E/20120101/wpub/wp_E_20120101_lg.jpg. God had promised Abraham: Genesis 15. Jesus was also an innocent son who went willingly up the mountain to be crucified. PRIVACY POLICY. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his one and only son, just like God sacrificed his one and only son. An exchange happens in Genesis 22, the ram in place of Isaac. The good news is that the answer to both questions is, “Yes!” Let’s take a look. This is why "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. Although God knew what Abraham was higher likely to do, he still needed to test him to discover whether or not he would follow through and obey him in spite of his love for his only son. At worst, it’s an evil trick. These questions have plagued many believers, including myself, and spawned the amazing book Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard. What kind of God would ask for this? . Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. And, in a figure, Abraham received his son … Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son. Instead, it’s the fact that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son in the first place. If Isaac represents Jesus in the story, then Abraham stands in for God. The result of Jesus’s sacrifice means new life for us all. But an angel spoke to Abraham. He spared Abraham the worst loss a parent can suffer; he protected Isaac from death. ^ par. . Abraham had obeyed God. God asked Abraham to do this so that Abraham could demonstrate his obedience. When we read Genesis 22, we may think, "How could God have required this?" Is the God of love found anywhere in this passage? How is it morally acceptable to almost sacrifice your son? Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. facebook; twitter; email; print. In the ancient world the assumption was that if something went wrong the “gods” were angry. Genesis 22:18). We also need to realize that God is all knowing. After a careful evaluation of the textual data, we are forced to conclude that, though God instructed Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice, the purpose of the command was merely to enable Abraham to manifest the strength of his faith and trust in God, and that it did not enter God’s mind actually to have Abraham kill his son. We also need to realize that God is all knowing. Isn’t this request in conflict with everything else God seems to value? God really did provide a sacrifice, Jesus Christ the righteous. And How could Abraham obey so readily? And, in a figure, Abraham received his son back again alive from the dead. God taught Abraham, possibly the first theologian ever, that God wanted a sacrifice of faith. When God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son to Him, what on earth was His will? Promise of God. And, in a figure, Abraham received his son … A surface reading may hide a character’s motivations and intentions. We are in the middle of a series on difficult passages in the Bible. Genesis 1-11 tells the story of how God created all things and made humans in his image to rule on his behalf. He knew that Isaac would not be sacrificed. The writer to the Hebrews describes Abraham’s thought process: “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Hi I’m Support Bot! offer him up as a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:2) Notice that Jehovah referred to Isaac as the son “whom you so love.” Jehovah knew how precious Isaac was to Abraham. He knew that Isaac would not be sacrificed. Although this problem lurks in the background of Abraham’s story, God reaffirms his promise. And if things went well the “gods” were pleased. Abraham received his son … God had already revealed himself to Abraham many times through Abraham’s successes and failures, his faith and fear, in promises and forgiveness. So far, everybody agrees. In the beginning, God made a good world and created beings in his image to rule it with him (Genesis 1:26-28). Let’s go back to the story we started off with. Why would he ask a man to sacrifice his son? Why Did God Ask Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac? Abraham and Isaac. He said to him, "Abraham!" This is the point that Paul makes when he draws language from Genesis 22 to ask, “He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31). Here's what God promised to Abraham then. Abraham should have instantly told God in no uncertain terms where to go. But an angel spoke to Abraham. Genesis 22:18). Publication download options 8 To learn more about why Jesus’ death was necessary and how we can demonstrate our appreciation for it, see chapter 5 of the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? ^ par. On the grounds of this sacrifice, Paul pronounces one of the strongest messages of hope and consolation in all of Scripture. God told him to sacrifice Isaac on a mountain. Both Isaac and Jesus are “beloved sons” who have been long-awaited and are born in miraculous circumstances (Genesis 22:1, Matthew 3:17). Abraham was asked to sacrifice his one and only son, just like God sacrificed his one and only son. Abraham completely trusted God. Abraham’s words to Isaac ultimately point to Jesus, “God himself will provide the sacrifice.”. However, given that Abraham did doubt 6 times, it makes sense that God would ultimately prove Abraham’s faith one more time by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac to demonstrate to us that Abraham was now trusting that God would raise Isaac back from the dead just to keep his promise to Abraham. God had said to Abraham He would make Him the Father of many nations. Is God forgetful? From that angle, Abraham’s willingness is comforting. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). He holds an M. A. in theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and, if there was such a thing as a card-carrying Bible nerd, he would hold one of those, too. By his actions, Abraham showed that his love for Isaac was not greater than his love for the God who gave him his son in the first place. “When I first heard this story as a child, I was outraged,” says a professor named Carol. "Here I am," he replied. The place of the sacrifice was Mount Moriah, which is most likely the exact same mountain where Jerusalem is built. But why was the test necessary? Genesis 1-11 tells the story of how God created all things and made humans in his image to rule on his behalf. Rather, what we have in this account is a glimpse into how God orchestrates history with small changes in the past that lead to huge changes in the future. The entire Bible points to Jesus, and this is especially true of Genesis 22. How could this be right? But, we know that 13 years earlier Ishmael had been born to Abraham. Yet that is exactly what they chose. Why did the Lord ask Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice? But when we view the story through the lens of prophetic reenactment, we can ask, "What did God intend for us to learn through this?". This story causes us to ask a lot of troubling questions. This is certainly the case with our next point—prophetic reenactment. When we look at the context of this story, we notice three things that lead us to greater understanding of this problematic passage in Genesis 22. In both cases, the father leads the son, and the son follows obediently toward his own death (Genesis 22:3, Matthew 26:39). Genesis –2. Perhaps seeing this story in the larger context of Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t relieve your troubling questions but only makes them worse. So why would God call Isaac the only son? How so? Genesis 22:1-12. How can a God who is all good demand such an act even if he had no intention to actually make Abraham carry out this deed. The biblical context—in a sense, the full story of Abraham—is most important for a proper understanding of this story. Now we jump ahead a few chapters in Genesis to consider the requested sacrifice of Isaac. The most common belief is that by demanding a sacrifice from Abraham, God tested his faith, will, and loyalty in such way. The assumption was if you offered a sacrifice and things didn’t go as planned you didn’t offer a big enough sacrifice. 1. Now Abraham and his wife Sarah were very old, as we read in our chapter yesterday, and even though God had promised to make Abraham into a great nation, this promise seemed to be very jeopardized, because Abraham was in his 90s, and he and his wife did NOT have any children! After careful studying, I realized God did not intend for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Questions about why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son have been raised countless times, and for a number of reasons. But remember what we’ve covered so far. Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. God knew that many centuries later, He would allow His own Son, * Jesus, to die in our behalf. Genesis 22:18). Update: Illuminator and others answering that it was like a test of faith thing. Both sons carry the wood that is to be the instrument of their deaths on their backs (Genesis 22:6, John 19:17). God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac because their actions are pointing ahead to the person of Christ in a typology of the true sacrifice. As the Creator of Jesus, then, God may rightly be called his Father. God knew that many centuries later, He would allow His own Son… What is the purpose of such a test? It never was God’s intention for Abraham to actually sacrifice his son. This story is a parable of the greater redemption God would someday accomplish through one of their descendants, Jesus. The acts themselves seem strange until you see them as an acted out allegory. However, the humans misuse their rule, and the world spins out of control into violence and death. 5 The Bible does not teach that God literally fathered Jesus by means of a woman. Second, the Bible suggests that Jehovah had a special reason for asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. In other cases, referencing other points in the biblical tradition can shed light on difficult passages. Jehovah wants all of his worshippers, including children, to continue living​—to enjoy a long and satisfying life. He told Abraham not to sacrifice Isaac. The Hebrew Scriptures wrestle with the question of how death will be resolved. THE WATCHTOWER January 2012, Share Rather, Jehovah created the spirit creature who was later sent to the earth to be born to the virgin Mary. The text gives only one answer: the Lord was testing Abraham (Gen. 22:1). So the sacrifices got bigger and bigger to appease the gods. When they reached the mountain, Abraham told his servant, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5). Why would he ask a man to sacrifice his son? However, I do not believe that we need to believe in a teleological suspension of the ethical in order to … Some time later God tested Abraham. While Abraham believed that his son will get to be alive at the end, he did not know how and when... Isaac was 'dead' for Abraham during the long 3-day trip to the mountain pointed out by God, and 'rose' on a third day at the end of it. And what is the moral of the story (assuming it is a story)? Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? He offered humanity richness of life because it was a life with him, the source of all life. But when we see how this story fits in with the broader context of Scripture, we see that this is one of the clearest stories pointing us toward God’s solution to the problem of death in our world. God knew that many centuries later, He would allow His own Son, * Jesus, to die in our behalf. Just like Isaac, God spares humanity because he takes the cross on himself. For many people, it’s an Old Testament Bible story that is confusing, even alarming. On the surface, Genesis 22 is a problematic passage. Please explain: Why did God cruelly command Abraham to sacrifice his son? But there was a condition: that if humanity turned away from him, they would die because nothing can live away from God. When the Bible depicts violence, things are often not what they seem at first glance. ▪ As recorded in the Bible book of Genesis, Jehovah God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Jehovah loved Jesus so dearly that he twice spoke from heaven, directly referring to Jesus as “my Son, the beloved.”​—Mark 1:11; 9:7. Genesis 22:1-12. In part one, we looked at the flood. Our Readers Ask . Why did god ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac? In Jesus, God brings his own promised Son into death and through it. He held the knife over Isaac. The Bible suggests that God had a special reason for asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. And the answer it gives is sacrifice. Why does death have to be involved at all? However, the humans misuse their rule, and the world spins out of control into violence and death. One of the hardest stories in the Bible to swallow, especially for mothers, is when God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Is God commanding child sacrifice? God knew that many centuries later, He would allow His own Son… Watch and Explore over 150 BibleProject videos. “When I first heard this story as a child, I was outraged,” says a professor named Carol. Abraham tied Isaac and put him on the altar. Jesus is the key that unlocks it for us. By using this website, I acknowledge that I am 16 years of age or older, and I agree to the. The prophetic implication is great. As recorded in the Bible book of Genesis, Jehovah God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. "Do not do anything to him. But there’s a problem: Abraham is childless and his wife is barren. Child sacrifice is obviously an evil, immoral and certainly not loving or good thing. Second, the Bible suggests that Jehovah had a special reason for asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. 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