The Offering of Isaac
The greatest test in Abraham’s life came after...
The greatest test in Abraham’s life came after he had received the promised child following a long wait. He had grown to love Isaac and had enjoyed his presence for a number of years.
1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered.
2“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.”
6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.
In response to Isaac’s question, Abraham again showed...
In response to Isaac’s question, Abraham again showed his faith in the Lord, saying God will provide, although he was not sure how. This theme is central to the entire narrative.
7Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
God’s intervention was dramatic and instructive, confirming that...
God’s intervention was dramatic and instructive, confirming that he never intended for Isaac to be sacrificed. God later made it clear that child sacrifice was an abomination to him (see Lev 18:21; 20:1–5; Deut 18:10; 2 Kgs 16:2–3; Isa 57:5; Jer 32:35). God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his own will and surrender it to God, and when he did, God intervened. This passage sets a pattern for all sacrificial worshipers. Like Abraham, true worshipers of God know that everything belongs to God—it all came from God and must therefore be acknowledged as God’s possession. A true worshiper holds nothing back but obediently gives God what he asks, trusting that God will provide for all needs, and then discovering through experience that God always does so.
9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
The LORD Provides the Sacrifice
11Just then the angel† of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”†
13Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram† in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.† So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
After the event, God again confirmed his covenant...
After the event, God again confirmed his covenant with Abraham (cp. 15:5, 18–21; 17:3–8). His descendants would be numerous like the stars in the sky (cp. 26:4), like the sand on the seashore (cp. 32:12), and like the dust of the earth (cp. 13:16; 28:14).
15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, 16saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants† like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
Abraham passed the test of faith; from this...
Abraham passed the test of faith; from this point, his task was to pass the covenant blessings to Isaac. He purchased a burial plot (ch 23), acquired a wife for Isaac (ch 24), and distributed his property (25:1–11).
18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,† because you have obeyed My voice.”
19Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.
The Sons of Nahor
A report came from the east that Abraham’s...
A report came from the east that Abraham’s brother Nahor (see 11:27–29) was flourishing. The actors in the following narrative are introduced here.
20Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram),
Bethuel was the youngest of Nahor’s eight sons...
Bethuel was the youngest of Nahor’s eight sons by Milcah; he was the father of Rebekah, Isaac’s future wife (see 24:15, 67). Rebekah would follow Sarah as matriarch of the clan (23:1–2).
22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”
23And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 24Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.