Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." This story is usually referred to as "the Binding of Isaac" in the Jewish tradition and is often titled "the Sacrifice of Isaac" in the Christian tradition. In Islam a similar story is told only Abraham is called to offer up his first son, Ishmael, instead of Isaac. No matter where you stand, this episode raises some unsettling questions. 1) Why does God test Abraham? 2) What is the test? Does Abraham pass or fail? 3) What do you think of this God who makes such a demand? What do you think of Abraham for being willing to obey? 4) Where was Sarah? How do you think she would have responded if God had commanded her to sacrifice Isaac? 5) If you were Isaac, what would you say to your father on the way down the mountain? Do you think that Isaac’s trust in his father, indeed his trust in God has been shattered? If so, what work must be done to restore that trust? Read the full text of the story Respond to the questions here or post your own question on our forum. Genesis 22: 1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Respond to the questions here or post your own question on our forum.
2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."
The Full Text from the New Revised Version:
2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.
4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away.
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you."
6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,
16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies,
18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.
