Christians, what is your perspective on Genesis 22:1-24, when Abraham is willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac?
by 
AntigoneRising
ANSWERS: 7
-
This question also applies to Muslims. Would a God ask a human to do such a heinous thing?
-
I'm an historian, so I'd have to look at it from an historical perspective. Put simply, 'priestly groups' throughout history have always sought to increase their own power and influence, and storytelling is a fine example of this. As such, this story (and I use the word carefully - I wouldn't call it fact) demonstrates nicely the level of submission to God (any god) that said 'priestly groups' would like to see. Abraham is perhaps the best example of a devout man the old testament provides. From the point of view of the established religion, submission to 'God' means submission to their group's wishes/commands. If you are literate, numerate and educated you can manipulate an illiterate, inumerate population with ease. Whether we like it or not, established religions have done this throughout history for very human reasons that have nothing to do with spirituality.
-
It is an ancient story which I believe to be true, but also parabolic. For that reason, the point of the story, Abraham's faith and God's benevolence are the only ideas for which much information is offered. In an historical context, it was not unheard of for child sacrifices to be expected or offered. Was Abraham willing to do what his neighbors were doing for his God? How could God communicate that this was not to be necessary. Abraham was willing, but something inside of him seemed to know that deliverance would come (Hence, "God will provide the lamb"). He knew that all his years of hoping in an unlikely promise would not come to naught. Nevertheless, he moved forward and God provided a one-time lesson that eliminated the notion that child sacrifice would ever be an expectation in Yahweh worship. Details are scant. Revelation is progressive and contextualized, but Christianity is able to build on the concepts and flesh them out with expanded implications.
-
Isaac was not in danger. It was a very grueling test of Abraham's faith and obedience. As Abraham was obedient, Isaac was spared. If Abraham was disobedient then Isaac was presumably saved - but at a cost that we shall never know. Perspectives and attitudes change with time and experience, and it is a mistake to look at a single event in isolation. And the man who does not know god cannot understand him Cohen has an interesting take... You who stand beside me now, your hatchets blunt and bloody, you were not there before.. perhaps the influence of god is lacking
-
It was common practice in his time and place. He would have expected God to ask that of him, because other people in his area sacrificed their children to their gods. The difference is, Abram's God intervened personally to stop him from going through with it, and provided an alternate sacrifice, just as He ultimately did with His own Son.
-
As I understand it, the question arose in Abraham's mind whether God or his son Isaac held the place of primacy in his thinking. God commanded this test to show him that He was indeed foremost to Abraham. But since Isaac was in integral part of God's Plan, he was not sacrificed. It is interesting to note that mount Moriah, where this occurred, was the same location where Jesus, the Lamb of God, was later sacrificed. It's the location of Jerusalem today.
-
The story about Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac is a parable to God offering up His Son Jesus. Abraham was stopped from killing Isaac because another father would be the one to sacrifice His Son for the forgiveness of the world. Even when God provided the substitute sacrifice. It was a RAM not a LAMB as what was traditional. Jesus was the lamb that was slain. Some say the geographical spot that Abraham did this was the same spot that Golgotha would be? When you read the old testament you need to keep in mind that much of it is talking about, referring to, or prophesying about Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment to most of the old testament. (John 10) Sums it up for thouse who want to be with Him!
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC