THE SACRIFICE

The sacrifice of Isaac is one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the Bible. The story seems to be a test of Abraham's obedience, therefore faith, in Yahweh. No reason is given for the test, and though commentators suggest this or that reason, I find only one that makes sense to me. Only one or two others allude to this idea.

The Promise in the Covenant declared a whole nation of people will arise from Abraham's seed. Yet, both he and his wife were so far past the child-bearing age, they even laughed when God promised them a child. In fact, they had tried to help God out by conceiving a child by Sarah's handmaid. AND THIS IS THE POINT! The Lord was seeking to find out whether Abraham's faith had grown since the birth of Ishmael. God was threatening to put him back in that same childless condition (so far as Sarah was concerned). Where the couple had failed to trust God to send them a son in His own time and way, can they now rely on Yahweh to fulfill His promise, even if Isaac died? The man's obvious willingness to sacrifice his son became evidence that he had indeed strengthened his trust in the Lord.

Now let's look at the passage.

The scripture here is blunt and clear.

God calls Abraham by name, and he immediately replied, “Here I am.” Two thoughts come to mind. God knows us by name. And the question is wheether we are tuned in when He calls.

God then throws on Abraham the awful challenge: sacrifice your son. Killing you own child is unimaginably horrible, but even more is involved here. For the last ten chapters Abe has followed where God led him, and still he has not seen the promised land, nor had a grandchild. Giving up Isaac means he is willing to surrender the covenant and its promise. The author of Hebrews believes he had faith that God would save Isaac or resurrect him.

Very simply verse 3 says Abraham got up the next morning and began following the Lord's instructions. Three days later they arrive at a suitable place, so the patriarch leaves his two servants, going on with just the boy. Note his comment at the end of verse 5, “we will come back to you.” You wish Genesis told us more about what was going on in Abraham's mind. How did he endure that agony. Did he really expect to come back with his living son, or was he brushing off his men?

The story slows down, becomes more detailed.

He gets Isaac to carry the wood. Thus the lad was probably a stout teenager. He carries the torch and the knife, as most commentators like to say, in order his son would not hurt himself. And the two trudge on together, father and son.

Isaac asks where is the sacrificial lamb. His father replies God will supply it. Which of course, He does. And they kept walking.

Under God's direction, Abraham built an altar, tied up his son, and laid him on the altar. The story now inches forward as the old man reaches out to take the knife to kill his son. At the critical moment God called Abraham strongly by name again. And once again, he replied immediately and simply. “I am here.” Are you ready when He calls, or do you hide or dodge?

God tells Abraham he had passed the test, showing that he trusted the Lord with his son, his covenant, and His promise. The patriarch sees a ram caught in a bush, and proceeds to sacrifice that animal instead. And God renews His promised covenant and promise. And yet, Abraham dies some time later, never owning even a piece of the Promised Land, unless it was the cave he bought in which to bury his wife!

Faith is the evidence of things not (yet) seen.

What do you suppose God is calling us toward?