Abraham Sacrifices Isaac (almost)

In short

Genesis 22:1-18. God asks Abraham to kill his own son, yet calls it off at the very last second.

Why it is important

“God tested Abraham” (v. 1). That’s quite the understatement. But Abraham succeeded.

The book of Hebrews praises Abraham’s faith in this story, saying, “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb 11:19).

Main characters

• Abraham
• Isaac
• God, and The Angel of the LORD

What is in this story

1. God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac “as a burnt offering” (v. 2)
2. They go, along with a donkey and two of Abraham’s “men” (v. 3)
3. You guys stay here; Isaac and I will be right back (v. 5)
4. Isaac says, Hey, dad… where’s the animal? (v. 7)
5. “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb’” (v. 8)
6. Game time (vs. 9-10)
7. STOP! (vs. 11-12)
8. God provides a ram for the offering instead (v. 13)
9. God praises Abraham for his faith and blesses him (vs. 16-18)

Things that are not so well-known

• God told Abraham the region (Moriah) but kept the exact mountain a secret until they got there (v. 2)
• It was far away apparently – a 3-day journey, at least (v. 4)
• Abraham built the altar on the spot! (v. 9)
• It’s nominally the angel of the LORD that tells Abraham to stop (v.11) and speaks to him the second time (v. 15) also. Yet in v. 16, the LORD is clearly speaking first-person
• Abraham names the place (v. 14) and it says he used the term “The LORD”

How old was Isaac?

I don’t think we know, and it’s not really relevant, but I am curious.

• He was old enough to carry a stack of wood (v. 6) and question why there was no lamb for the offering (v. 7)
• He was married at age 40 after the death of Sarah, who died at 127, making Isaac about 37 then (so he was younger than 37 at Moriah)
• Beyond that, I don’t think we can know
• He was able to be bound by Abraham and laid on an altar (v. 9), and Abraham was over 100, so I would guess – and it is a guess – that Isaac was still a boy, though

Theology and doctrine

Before this, God had promised Abraham a great legacy through Isaac. So aside from the horror of killing your own son, how could God go back on his promise? We can’t say for sure, but, again, the story makes it clear at the outset that this was a test. As Hebrews said, Abraham believed that God could resurrect someone, so there is no need to think that God was bluffing.

Also, what’s interesting (odd, honestly), is that both Genesis and Hebrews refer to Isaac as Abraham’s “only” son. But, he’s not. Ishmael was Abraham’s first son, who was conceived somewhat illegitimately and was later sent away (Gen 21:8-21). Abraham also had other sons much later (25:1-2).