S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

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. God commanded, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and g...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Chris Eleam Chris Eleam

ABRAHAM loved God. That faithful patriarch also loved Isaac, the son of his old age. But when Isaac was possibly 25 years old, Abraham faced a test that went against the natural instincts of a father—God told him to sacrifice his son. The story, however, did not end in Isaac’s death. At the critical moment, God intervened by means of an angel. This Bible account, recorded at Genesis 22:1-18, gives us a prophetic glimpse into God’s great love for us.
“God put Abraham to the test,” says verse 1. Abraham was a man of faith, but now his faith would be tested as never before. God said: “Take, please, your son, your only son whom you so love, Isaac, and . . . offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall designate to you.” (Verse 2) Remember, God does not allow his servants to be tried beyond what they can bear. So this test showed his confidence in Abraham.—1 Corinthians 10:13.

Abraham responded with prompt obedience. We read: “Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his ass and took two of his attendants with him and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering. Then he rose and went on the trip.” (Verse 3) Abraham evidently kept the details of the test to himself.
A three-day trip followed, giving time for somber reflection. But Abraham’s resolve did not weaken. The words he spoke revealed his faith. Upon seeing the selected mountain in the distance, he told his servants: “You stay here . . . , but I and the boy want to go on over there and worship and return to you.” When Isaac asked where the sheep was for the offering, Abraham said: “God will provide himself the sheep.” (Verses 5, 8) Abraham expected to return with his son. Why? Because “he reckoned that God was able to raise him [Isaac] up even from the dead.”—Hebrews 11:19.

Up on the mountain, when Abraham took the “knife to kill his son,” an angel stayed his hand. God then provided a ram, caught in the thicket, that Abraham could offer up “in place of his son.” (Verses 10-13) In God’s eyes, it was as if Isaac had actually been sacrificed. (Hebrews 11:17) “Before God,” explains one scholar, “the willingness was reckoned as equal to the deed.”
Jehovah’s confidence in Abraham was vindicated. And Abraham’s confidence in Jehovah was rewarded, for God repeated and enlarged upon his covenant with Abraham, which covenant promised blessings for people of all the nations.—Verses 15-18.

In the end, God spared Abraham the sacrifice that He would not spare himself. Abraham’s willingness to offer up Isaac foreshadowed God’s offering of his only-begotten Son, Jesus, for our sins. (John 3:16) The sacrifice of Christ is the greatest proof of Jehovah’s love for us. Since God made such a sacrifice for us, we do well to ask ourselves, ‘What sacrifices am I willing to make in order to please God?’

July 11 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Joe cattani

Since child sacrifice is what the pagans do, not the hebrews, I have look for another message. God tested Abraham's love for him, that is true. But not the whole truth. I believe what God was really asking is "do you accept that Isaac belongs to me, and are you willing to give back to God what belongs to God? " Those days children were property. A father could sell, work I him in the fields, or even kill him. God is telling Abraham that the children belong to God, and they will be treated as such. Abrahams job as custodial parent is to care for them and teach them in the way of the Lord.

March 11 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop

The answer to this question simply lies in Genesis 22:1,12.

Genesis 22:1 says "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham...". 

It was a test on Abraham's love and faithfulness to God.

Abraham did pass the test. 

Genesis 22:12 says "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.

God does and will often test our faith to determine the substance of our Christian standing. 

Are we ready for His tests? 

Many Christians ascribe every suffering in their lives to Satan. They are wrong. Think again.

July 11 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I was talking to an older orthodox Jewish couple decades ago by the names of Al and Ellie. They could not understand either why God would allow such a thing, and to even compare this with God the Father planning the death of his only begotten Son this way. Well, I never convinced them, but I’ll try to explain. He (God), I believe, just wanted to test Abraham and see if he was willing to sacrifice his son to prove his love and obedience to God. That’s it. In fact, 2 of the more modern translations of the Bible back me up on this point. Here they are:

CEV
Special Messenger: Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to harm him. I know now that you respect the one True God and will be loyal to Him and follow His commands, because you were willing to give up your son, your only son, to Me.

VOICE
“The angel of the Lord declared that it was Abraham’s willingness to surrender his son, not the actual killing of him, that satisfied God’s expectations for Abraham. God said explicitly, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad... for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen. 22:12, NASB).” --https://www.defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Genesis_22.2.php

April 01 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report