The Binding of Isaac

ME

YOU

Genesis 12–50 Genesis 22:1–24

Genesis 22 is the culmination of the Abraham narrative. The entire narrative has built up to the arrival of the promised son in Gen 21, but the event itself receives scant attention. The focus shifts to Gen 22 and God’s command that Abraham sacrifice the promised son. Abraham’s faith, which has been challenged repeatedly and with inconsistent success throughout the narrative, meets its greatest challenge here

This is the final boss level of Abraham’s story. The most important part.

GOD

English Standard Version (Chapter 22)

After these things God tested Abraham

It is important to note that God never intended this to be a child sacrifice. The author goes out of the way to start us off with this. There should be no point at which we think, “what if God is calling me to sacrifice my child.” He is not. The law confirmed this. This is a test and a test is never for God’s benefit, it is for ours.

All of the neighboring cultures practiced child sacrifice, so God puts Abraham to a test to see a few things:

Is he as devoted to his God as the pagans?

Does He trust that God will fulfill His promise through Isaac even if He sacrifices Him or will he do what he usually does and not trust?

and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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 of which I shall tell you.”

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 Genesis 22:2

With the very same words the LORD had told Abram to leave all that he had hitherto held most dear—“his country, his clan, and his father’s house” (12:1). Already at his wife’s behest, confirmed by God, he has expelled his son Ishmael (21:10, 12), of whom he was very fond. Can anything harder be demanded of a loving father than sending his son away? Questions are raised but not directly answered

This is the second time he has been told to give up a beloved son.

Genesis & Exodus (Genesis 22:2)

This is explained by the Chronicler (2 Chr 3:1) as the place of the later Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Abraham was instructed to go to the region of Moriah, which could have been any of the hills around the Jebusite city

Mount Moriah is Jerusalem. Spaced Repetition. He goes to the exact mountain that hundreds of years later will become the temple. He goes to the same mountain where Christ will be crucified.

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

He gets up early. He is resolute to follow on this one. He isn’t going to fail this test.

Very interesting. He chooses to take wood now and not there. They all would know he needs an animal to sacrifice. This would have been an ominous journey. Sarah would have known . Interestingly enough, this is the last time that we know of that Sarah and Abraham would be living together.

4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 Genesis 22:4

Calvin observes that the delay made Abraham’s ordeal the more painful. “God does not require him to put his son immediately to death, but compels him to revolve this execution in his mind during three whole days, that in preparing to sacrifice his son, he may still more severely torture all his own senses” (1:565

The waiting is the hardest part of this test.

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.

I believe Abraham believes He is coming back down the mountain with Isaac. The translation is We will go and we will come again.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 Genesis 22:9

So why bother to mention that Abraham bound Isaac? Perhaps it was because Abraham might relatively easily have slit Isaac’s throat when he was off guard; that an elderly man was able to bind the hands and feet of a lively teenager strongly suggests Isaac’s consent

Isaac has faith too.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 (Genesis 22:6)

Thus the wording here anticipates the moment of sacrifice itself. Genesis Rabbah, the Jewish midrash, comments that Isaac with the wood on his back is like a condemned man, carrying his own cross

7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter 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, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Literally “the Lord will see to it”.

God provides a ram and a principle: sacrifice is internal 1st, then external. Over and over again the prophets will make this claim. God wants your heart, but a sacrifice is a test or proof of your faith.

15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

This will give the Hebrews reading it the confidence to go to battle for the land. God is with them.

A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.

Life is a test full of tests.

God calls us to surrender our best for Him.

The fear of God served Abraham well.

Abraham believed God will see to it...

English Standard Version (Hebrews 11)

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

English Standard Version (John 8)

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

Some scholars believe that Abraham was given a glimpse of the upcoming times but more likely, Jesus is reflecting on the idea that Abraham needed to make a sacrifice and simply trusted that God would provide the lamb. Jesus is the lamb, the fulfillment of the promises God has made to Abraham.