Abraham Offers Isaac

[oyster67]

Gen 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?

If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

 

[flob]

because God is troubling

 

[kaylagrl]

because God is troubling

And why do you feel that way?

 

[Magenta]

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?
If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

Abraham trusted God's word to him that his seed, through the son promised to him in his old age (Isaac) would be as plentiful as the stars in heaven, the grains of sand on the earth. How could this happen if Isaac was sacrificed? Abraham already believed in the resurrection! He knew that even if he had to sacrifice his son, that God could raise him from death.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

Some say the mount where Isaac was to be sacrificed is the same one where Jesus was crucified.

 

[kaylagrl]

Gen 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?

If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

People find it unsettling because they dont understand it is foreshadowing the coming of Christ. If they understood this they would not find it troubling.

 

[oldhermit]

People find it troubling because they want to hold God accountable to a humanly derived standard of ethics. They feel this calls the integrity of God into question.

 

[Galahad]

Gen 22... Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?
If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

Abraham wasn't troubled over it. He rose up early the next morning and said: We will return. He knew God would keep His promise. It's faith in the God Who cannot lie. Faith in the God Who is able to fulfill His promise through a woman beyond childbearing age.

If I don't read the entire story, if I misunderstand God's love, and if I don't know why that story was written, then it can be disturbing.

Good question.

 

[Galahad]

People find it troubling because they want to hold God accountable to a humanly derived standard of ethics. They feel this calls the integrity of God into question.

Humanly derived standards. Okay.
What standard is God not measuring up to? Or, do you have an opinion, thought as to what it might be?

They want to hold God accountable.
What do you mean?
If they want to hold God accountable, then they don't know God. Or, they are fools. Yes, that is bible teaching.
Perhaps it's not so much that they don't want to hold God accountable as it is they don't want to be accountable to God.

 

[oldhermit]

Humanly derived standards. Okay.
What standard is God not measuring up to? Or, do you have an opinion, thought as to what it might be?

They want to hold God accountable.
What do you mean?
If they want to hold God accountable, then they don't know God. Or, they are fools. Yes, that is bible teaching.
Perhaps it's not so much that they don't want to hold God accountable as it is they don't want to be accountable to God.

I think you missed the point I was making.

 

[atwhatcost]

Gen 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?

If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

Because most people are taught Isaac was a defenseless little boy. He wasn't. He was a 17 year old man. He had all rights to walk away. He trusted his father, just like his father trusted our Father.

 

[Galahad]

I think you missed the point I was making.

And if I have...my apologies? Sorry.

What humanly derived standard or ethic is God violating? In your opinion? Just asking.

My understanding is not as sharp as others. I failed math. English? Finally got it after years of personal study. Bible? Still learning.

If I missed your point as ye think I might (may) have, can you assist?

 

[oldhermit]

And if I have...my apologies? Sorry.

What humanly derived standard or ethic is God violating? In your opinion? Just asking.

My understanding is not as sharp as others. I failed math. English? Finally got it after years of personal study. Bible? Still learning.

If I missed your point as ye think I might (may) have, can you assist?

I was not suggesting that God is a violator of ethics. What I was saying was that many attempt to use this narrative to suggest that both Abraham and God are in the wrong according to how man determines ethics. This topic is a widely debated favorite among atheist and Christians alike. The questions that arise from this debate are, "Where is the ethic in Abraham's willingness to kill his own son? Where is the ethic in God demanding a human sacrifice. Does God have the right to ask such a thing of Abraham? Was Abraham's first obligation to his son or to God? Did Abraham have the right or a moral obligation to refuse such a request?

 

[crossnote]

That's one of my favorite passages in the Old Testament, chock full of types of the Sacrifice and Resurrection of Christ.
One of my favorites is...

8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb.
He sure did provide to us HIMSELF....as a Lamb.

 

[Galahad]

I was not suggesting that God is a violator of ethics. What I was saying was that many attempt to use this narrative to suggest that both Abraham and God are in the wrong according to how man determines ethics. This topic is a widely debated favorite among atheist and Christians alike. The questions that arise from this debate are, "Where is the ethic in Abraham's willingness to kill his own son? Where is the ethic in God demanding a human sacrifice. Does God have the right to ask such a thing of Abraham? Was Abraham's first obligation to his son or to God? Did Abraham have the right or a moral obligation to refuse such a request?

Oldhermit,

I've read plenty of your posts to know that you weren't suggesting such a thing. To help me with my posts, what did I write that left you with such an idea? I am not being sarcastic. Really want to know. Sometimes what I type does not match up to what I am thinking as I type. Many times I've typed a response and found not only grammatical errors, but gaps in flow and thought of the sentences.

I just did not know what ethic violation God would be accused of by those who have their own standard.

But you've answered that in your last response. And I thank you.

 

[oldhermit]

Oldhermit,

I've read plenty of your posts to know that you weren't suggesting such a thing. To help me with my posts, what did I write that left you with such an idea? I am not being sarcastic. Really want to know. Sometimes what I type does not match up to what I am thinking as I type. Many times I've typed a response and found not only grammatical errors, but gaps in flow and thought of the sentences.

I just did not know what ethic violation God would be accused of by those who have their own standard.

But you've answered that in your last response. And I thank you.

Well, I was not meaning to imply that you had made such a suggestion. I was merely trying to clarify my previous post. I am sorry things got mixed up.

 

[slave]

I was not suggesting that God is a violator of ethics. What I was saying was that many attempt to use this narrative to suggest that both Abraham and God are in the wrong according to how man determines ethics. This topic is a widely debated favorite among atheist and Christians alike. The questions that arise from this debate are, "Where is the ethic in Abraham's willingness to kill his own son? Where is the ethic in God demanding a human sacrifice. Does God have the right to ask such a thing of Abraham? Was Abraham's first obligation to his son or to God? Did Abraham have the right or a moral obligation to refuse such a request?

So what Oldhermit is saying to me is John 4:8 tells us God is love not God loves, So when He offers Himself to us we are loved. Why is that important? It makes a bold position of loves criteria. If God and love are synonymous, love becomes, not a attribute of God, it is God. Whatever God is, love is. God therefore is not critiqued by the standards of love, as we humans understand it. It is critiqued by God Himself. Our unknown sight of Gods purpose in the story has some second guess His experiential demeanor, yet God is always after the best in everything. And is the author of everything. Like Jesus when approaching the temple and the Pharisees criticized Him for not following the love law they understood, and when David entered and ate the food violating the rules of sacrament for the high priests only to eat, there biased consideration of Gods ability to outline loves language was also evident. We must trust that If God was about this: how can I, not God adjust to understand it?!!!

 

[MarcR]

Gen 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?

If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

The idea of human sacrifice, especially one's own child is, and should be in itself unsettling! The only thing that keeps it from being unsettling here is Abraham's assurance that Isaac is coming back down the mountain with him alive, after he obeys God.

 

[slave]

This story was without question a test and a statement to the parties in the real-time event and in us as we read. I believe God knew of the stress it would cause, as to gain our attention to His purpose in it. Patience is more than endurance. A Christians life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God here is aiming at something two participants cannot see, and they stretch and strain, as God pulls back looking only at His purpose, and God is interested in there heart, some in those spots have said "I cannot stand anymore!" But God does not heed regardless of the reaction, He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, then He let's fly. What is God's purpose? I believe it was to trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship by the patience of faith.........."Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Notice how it doesn't say yet, will I do for Him? God wants our hearts then He flings into action!

 

[slave]

Also, In the details of this story we need to see God didn't randomly pick Abraham to pick on him. He had already been setting the table in Abrahams life with other tests. He was tested twice with his sons. The first was in the begetting of Ishmael; his banishment. The second test was for the women of Abimelech's house. So we enter this story with it now being his third test. God is not testing him in a point of weakness but in his pinnacle moment in faithfulness, his golden hour! Here we see a blessed man with Isaac given to him from God for he had not demanded Isaac of God, a man on top of his game, and Isaac we see Abraham loved deeply. All this now takes a left turn in logical reasoning even to followers, or perhaps especially to followers.

You see even the world could understand the parallel of Ishmael's banishment since he was born of the flesh, But God had promised Isaac, Abraham had sought satisfaction with Ishmael, but God Himself said NO! So, now 100 years old at the time of Isaacs birth we see God wanting to take the love of his life and offer it as a burnt offering?......Human brain disconnect! His only natural son whom he loves and was promised is now being taken back? Why? and now we either hedge faiths bet or we fall back into ourselves and reason this out. What would you have done? Regardless of the actual actions taken it is a test for us all.

God wants for Abraham and us to have a deeper realization of God as the Father. For this was the work yet finished in Abraham. Not only is God the criteria of love but He is the Father of all first! God wants all of us to understand that Isaac was not to be held by Abraham with any fleshly hands. For God is the Father of Abraham and Isaac; first. He didn't want Abraham to hold onto Isaac with any human control. Isaac was known to God before he was born, and was his father at that point. When we surrender our all we need to sit down and count the cost of that. He speaks in other passages of we must leave our Mother and Father Sister and Brother, etc etc and our children....This is not an abandonment issue it is a first fruits issue. For unless we put God first we cannot be of any use for God. When God says he is all and in all we need to understand in this story that He means it literally! Reality is not anything outside of it. Spiritual reality is everything involved in it. God is LORD. Not powerful-sidekick.

So the question for us is do we have anything in our lives at all that has a touch of our human grip on it? Now take your time assessing that the answers won't come in the living room of Gods house it will be found in the back of the dark closet. But if there is anything accompanying the cobwebs back there He wants it. He sees it, and He is not in agreement of us leaving it there. God's got my attention from this story.

 

[Bowman]

Gen 22
1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, [here] I [am].
2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering?
8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.
12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.
13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14) And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said [to] this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Many people find this account unsettling, despite the fact that all ends well. Why do you think some might find this account troubling?

If you find this account to be a blessed encouragement, please share this as well.

What most people miss in this passage is that God The Son (i.e. Malek Yahweh) is the one with whom Abraham is conversing and making the sacrifice...