My goal today is to present a few possibilities that are not explicitly expressed in the Scripture but, nevertheless, could give us a fuller and perhaps clearer picture of how Isaac, Abraham's treasured son, was nearly slaughtered by his father.
Read along with me, if you'd like.
It's clear from the get-go that Abraham is going to face a test from God. (verse 1) Tests and trials are to be expected in life. In fact, to some extent, I try to prepare for every possible negative circumstance. But, some things, you never expect to be a test.
I bet you Abraham never expected God to ask to sacrifice Isaac, for one thing. (verse 2)
Can you imagine the heavy burden that had to have hit Abraham when he received this request from...God? Scripture is silent as to Abraham's reaction but I could imagine him saying:
"Really?! Is this the same God that promised me that I would have a son and countless descendants? Could God really want me to not only end Isaac's life but leave me childless again just to wonder if I'll ever have another son? This ish is bananas b-a-n-a-n-a-s!" (Ok, he probably didn't say that last part.)
Me, personally? I wouldn't have been near as insightful.
I would've told God off. I have one child; a 9-month old girl. I wouldn't have even considered the possibility of doing such a thing. What about you?
(I say this because I know better. I have this Bible story right in front of me and know the outcome. Plus, I know of a certain cult practice of the Ancient Near East that is closely related to this story. This cult practice coupled with God's request doesn't make sense. But I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll touch on this just a little bit later.)
Abraham saddled up with Isaac and a couple of servants on a 3-day journey to the exact mountain on which God told him to sacrifice his son. He, obviously, kept his exact intentions from everyone else. Or was Abraham's statement of "we will worship and then WE will come back to you" (verse 5) a hopeful statement of faith? We'll never know for sure.
As they venture on alone, Isaac notices that something is missing. They had all the necessities for a burnt sacrifice minus the animal to be slaughtered. (verse 6-7)
Once again, Abraham gives a hopeful response in "God Himself will provide the lamb." (verse 8) Did he really believe that or was this, again, a deceptive answer? Both could be true.
They arrive, build the altar and Isaac is tied down. (verse 9)
Let's pause right here.
The majority of scholars seem to agree that Abraham simply overpowers his son and, by brute force, ties him down; Isaac is given no say in the matter.
A minority of scholars have offered two other possibilities that are definitely plausible.
Alternate scenario #1: Abraham reasoned with his young son; Isaac consents to his father's request
This scenario changes the whole vibe of the story. If this were true, then Isaac deserves a ton of credit of being willing to die at his father's request. (Sound familar? It should.) Either Isaac is completely devoted to God or to his father or both. You could also say that perhaps Isaac is also hopeful that God indeed will "provide the lamb" for the offering.
Alternate scenario #2: Abraham had no choice but to convince Isaac to consent to being sacrificed
(This one takes a little more explaining. Bear with me.)
Yes, this scenario is very similar to the previous one. The sole difference is how we view Isaac. The word used for boy (in Hebrew na-ar, verse 5) can be used in some instances to mean "young man." In fact, the same word is used to describe the servants that accompanied Abraham and Isaac to the mountain. It's highly unlikely that the servants were little boys.
Also, would Isaac been able to hike up a mountain carrying enough firewood to consume a human body in flames by himself if he were a boy?
Again, unlikely.
In light of this evidence and other solid time-frame cues in the Bible, several scholars have estimated Isaac's age to be somewhere between 20-33 years old. This would make Abraham's age somewhere between 120-133 years old. Abraham lived 175 years. So, by comparison to our normal life spans, Abraham would have been in the shape of a man in his fifties. Not a pushover for sure but wrestling a young man who is 20-30 years younger may be a losing cause.
(You can read more about this train of thought here)
If all this is true, again, Isaac is to be commended.
All this dissection goes for naught when God speaks from heaven and stops Abraham from stabbing his son. (verses 11-12) If you truly believe that God is omniscient (all-knowing) then you would know that Abraham was going to kill his son. Abraham couldn't have faked it.
Wow. You can call it lunacy or reckless faith, but wow.
Abraham looks up to see a ram whose horns were caught in a bush. (verse 13) Isaac is saved, God provided and the ram is the perfect substitute.
The test is over. Abraham (and Isaac) have shown themselves devoted to God. Let me ask you one last question before I conclude:
Did God ever intend for Abraham to actually go through with killing his son?
Interesting question, isn't it? I believe the answer is no.
"How could you possibly even assume to know that, TJ?"
Ever heard of the ancient god Molech of Ammonites? He's in the Bible; 16 times, in fact. He is described as "detestable" in 1 Kings 11.
"What about Molech was so bad that he, out of all the other gods in biblical history, deserved to be called out in such a way?"
Molech required one thing from all of his followers:
The sacrifice of their firstborn child!
The God of Abraham denounces this practice adamantly! All life belongs to the LORD, not to some false, pagan god. (Lev 18:21) If children were to die due to this practice, the God's law demanded that the parents be executed in response. (Lev 20:2)
Isn't it safe to assume that if God speaks so strongly against child sacrifice in the Bible that He was only "testing" Abraham, not intending to force him to kill Isaac? Also, if God could kill all the firstborn sons of Egypt on one night in one fell swoop (Ex 12), then why would He ever ask one human being, much less a father, to do it for Him?
God knows what it takes to lose a son
Still, Abraham is more faithful than I would've been. But, like I said, knowing the whole Bible story, this account comes into focus. Again, this account foreshadows what God eventually would do for us. God is to be praised for providing the "sacrificial lamb" in Jesus Christ for us all. Jesus, like Isaac, should be commended for obeying His father regardless of what He would have to endure on our behalf.
You see, that's the difference between us and God. God would give anything, even His own son, to have us love Him.
Us?
Well, it depends on what He asks from us, doesn't it?
Please know that God would never ask you to go against His commandments to prove your love for Him. He's a big boy; He can do His own work. However, to show your devotion, all it takes is humility, repentance, faith and following Jesus.
If you have children, go love on them right now!
If you don't, be thankful that your parents aren't Molech-worshippers:)
thanks TJ!
ReplyDeletenice post..
best,
ruanguji