Genesis 22:1 After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham!”
“Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.”
2 He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.”
3-5 Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him. On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance. Abraham told his two young servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together.
7 Isaac said to Abraham his father, “Father?”
“Yes, my son.”
“We have flint and wood, but where’s the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.” And they kept on walking together.
9-10 They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.
11 Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”
13 Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That’s where we get the saying, “On the mountain of God, he sees to it.”
15-18 The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”
19 Then Abraham went back to his young servants. They got things together and returned to Beersheba. Abraham settled down in Beersheba.
Abraham is distraught! After reveling having Isaac as the son of his old age, now Abraham is about to do the unthinkable. Following God’s orders, Abraham is to take Isaac and two servants, plus wood for a burnt offering, and travel three days to the Land of Moriah, where he must offer Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. How can God possibly demand that Abraham do this terrible thing? Beautiful, handsome Isaac, the pride and joy of his parents-how can Abraham possibly give up this miracle child? The night before they are to leave, Abraham slips into the tent where Isaac is sleeping and listens to his quiet breathing and smells his sweet little boy scent. Abraham traces Isaac’s dark curly hair, his sweet mouth, his long eyelashes, and his lovely smooth skin. Isaac is a handsome boy, and he is already developing muscles as he runs and plays and works with Abraham. The thought of what God is calling Abraham to do is almost more than Abraham can think about.
The next morning, Abraham, Isaac, the two servants, and a donkey set out for the land of Moriah. The closer the little band come to the mountains of Moriah, the heavier Abraham’s heart becomes. “Lord God,” Abraham cries within himself, “How can You possibly demand this of me? Isaac is the child of my old age, the child of promise. You have promised that my descendants will be countless; how can I have descendants if Isaac dies today?” Abraham’s feet seem heavier and heavier as he trudges up the mountainside to a level place that appears to shine with a holy light. Now it’s just Abraham and Isaac, for Abraham has left the two servants with the donkey at the foot of the mountain. Isaac carries the wood while Abraham carries the flint and knife. As they climb, Abraham wonders if he will be able to kill Isaac when the time comes or if he will simply plunge the knife into his own breast.
When Isaac innocently asks Abraham about the sheep for the sacrifice, Abraham can scarcely answer. Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.”
When Abraham and Isaac reach the place for the sacrifice, Abraham builds an altar, lays out the wood, and then ties up Isaac, laying him on the wood. Trembling within himself, Abraham picks up the knife. And then comes the miracle.
11-14 Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”
Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That’s where we get the saying, “On the mountain of God, he sees to it.”
Then God speaks to Abraham, “The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”
Throughout history, there have been human sacrifices; that is why Abraham wasn’t surprised that God would demand he sacrifice Isaac. But how could Abraham possibly give up his only son, the son of promise?
We read this story and think “EWWW! How nasty!” But that response totally misses the point. God never wanted Abraham to slaughter Isaac; however, He did want to see if Abraham’s commitment to Him was complete. Abraham’s willingness to give up what was most precious to him proved that Abraham wouldn’t withhold anything from God.
The only human sacrifice God has ever approved happened when God’s Son Jesus came as a man, living a sinless life and dying a cruel shameful death that he did not deserve. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac foreshadows Jesus’ sacrifice.
Today, God requires different sacrifices. We might have planned illustrious careers for ourselves, with wealth and power. God asks, “Are those things more important than I am?” We might virtually worship our families. God will ask, “Are you willing to trust your relatives to Me?” We might When my husband and I left America for Ghana, God and I made a deal. God would take care of my relatives in America if I would take care of other people’s relatives in Ghana. Through the years, I have done the best I can to care for my patients here as if they were my blood relatives.
As a child in Sunday School, I learned this wonderful hymn by Cecil Frances Alexander. As you read these words, ask yourself what God wants from you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we give you our lives and our hearts. Please take them and use us for Your Glory. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
1. Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice sounding,
Saying, “Christian, follow me.”
2. Brothers Simon, Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home, and toil, and kindred,
Leaving all for His dear sake.
3. Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love me more.”
4. In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”
5. Jesus calls us—By your mercies,
Savior, may we hear your call,
Give our hearts to your obedience,
Serve and love you best of all.
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