The Sacrifice of Isaac

Story: The Sacrifice of Isaac

Passage: Genesis 22

Characters: God, Abraham, Isaac, two servants

Summary: God tested Abraham by telling him to offer his son as a burnt offering in the place He would show him. Abraham took his son and traveled three days to the mountain God chose and carried the wood and the fire up the mountain. When Isaac asked where the lamb was, Abraham said that God would provide the lamb. Abraham took his knife and had bound his son and was about to kill him when God stopped him saying that now He knew that Abraham withheld nothing from God. Abraham saw a ram stuck in the bushes and he offered the ram instead. The mountain was called “God will provide”. God spoke again and made his promise to Abraham once again about his offspring. He promised that his offspring would possess the gate of their enemies. God also connected this promise to the condition of obedience which Abraham had just met. Abraham’s brother had some children.

Notes: This story is fascinating for several reasons. Many comparisons have been drawn between Abraham offering his son and God sacrificing His son for us. I think there is a slightly different analogy here as well. But first, some observations. This command from God made no sense. After all this trouble, Abraham finally had a son and God wanted him to kill him! This was no easy command either. It involved a three day trek without a known destination! Only if Abraham was devoted to God would he be willing to make a difficult trek with the purpose of killing his only son. Abraham obeyed though! He had total faith that God would provide. When Isaac inquired where the sacrifice was, Abraham said that it would be provided by God. Even though He believed God would provide, he still had the full intention of following God’s command all the way through. God did not step in until just before the strike. God made a promise to Abraham, but this promise was conditional. It was the same promise we have seen God give Abraham over and over again, but now we hear that is was conditional on his obedience. When God makes a promise, it can be and possibly always is conditional. Now to the analogy I see in this story. In my opinion, the Christ figure in this story is not Isaac, but the ram who was killed. Isaac was condemned to death by God and was led to his death. However, when the time came to kill him, God provided a lamb to be killed in Isaac’s place. I submit that Isaac represents humanity. We have been condemned to death by God. However, when we were still deserving death and about to die, God provided a lamb, His son, to die in our place and allow us to live with a promise that if we walked with Him, He would bless us and provide for us and fill us with His Spirit! This is significant and it is beautiful that God had the foresight to foreshadow this aspect of his redemptive story in ancient times. God knew Abraham’s heart so why did He need to test Abraham? I suspect it is because He wanted Abraham to see and believe that he was obedient and faithful and that God would come through. I believe this ordeal was more for Abraham’s benefit than God’s benefit.

Questions: Why did God choose that specific mountain? Why did God feel the need to test Abraham? Didn’t He know his heart? What did Isaac think during this story? Did Sarah know what was happening? How long had the ram been trapped in the bush? How many of God’s promises have conditions on them?

Lessons: God demands everything from us. Nothing is so important that we should not be willing to sacrifice it. God is our all in all. He is everything we need. He is the holy ruler of the universe and if what He says doesn’t make sense, this is because of our fallen minds and not because He made a mistake. Our only responsibility is to follow God and walk with Him in obedience. Nothing should come before that responsibility. If we obey in this, God will provide when we need His provision.