#28: Abraham's Test

Genesis 22:1-3

Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

Comments

Modern readers may recoil in horror as they read this story, seeing in it clear evidence of God’s cruelty in asking Abraham to sacrifice his son.

Ancient readers would have seen it quite differently. Human sacrifice as a means of appeasing God’s wrath or of gaining God’s favor was a typical element in many ancient religions.

The story of how God tested Abraham has many twists and turns as the story unfolds. It starts with God being painfully clear about who is to be sacrificed: “your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac.”

God realized the difficulty of what he was asking. Abraham had already lost his first son, Ishmael, because Sarah had insisted that Abraham get rid of him. Now God told him to give up his only remaining son.

God also realized this was a son whom Abraham loved. God referred to him by name, Isaac, a painful irony given its Hebrew meaning: “laughter.”

Reflections

Abraham was asked to sacrifice his future; Jesus was asked to sacrifice his life; both endured an incredible test. What are some of the similarities and differences between these stories?

What God asked Abraham to do made no sense to him, and yet he obeyed. Is your willingness to obey God contingent on the sensibility of what God asks you to do?

Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who feels the pain of the tests we face.