The one where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, but then stops him, saying he didn't really want him to kill his son, just wanted proof of his total devotion.
This really strikes a negative chord with me; I can't imagine a god that could possibly want one of his believers to worship him so much that he would commit any murder, especially against one of his children, for him.
Do I have the wrong message here? Christians, can you let me know if you see a positive message here? I'm not trying to offend, just very curious, as I've never understood this story.
Respectful replies only, please. Thank you.
2006-08-25 09:38:38 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You have the answer right: God wanted proof of Abraham's total devotion to Him. But I can see what you are asking: Why would a loving God want people randomly murder people "out of devotion"? The fact is, He doesn't! In the story of Abraham, God wanted to make sure that He was still Abraham's first priority in life. So, God chose the one major thing that could possibly steal Abraham's full devotion. That one thing happened to be his son. His one and only son. However God did NOT ultimately have Abraham kill Isaac. God wanted to test Abraham's love and trust in Him. God brought him to the crucial moment, then said 'Abraham, Abraham!...Don't lay a hand on that boy!" (Gen. 22:11-12). God didn't want Abraham to actually KILL Isaac, He only wanted to test his priorities. God often does the same things to us, testing us in areas of our lives that could steal our affections away from God. Sometimes, He will just make sure that we WOULD do away with the distraction, after which it usually stops being one, or He might actually have us get rid of it. Either way, we need to surrender to Him, as Abraham did, and place our trust in Him, safe in the knowledge that He knows what is best for us. God bless!
2006-08-25 09:53:06 · answer #1 · answered by eefen 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, consider that God stopped Abraham, and sent a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place. Though Abraham thought God was asking something so terrible and impossible for him, he went ahead and would do it anyway because he trusted in God. But God had a plan the whole time. God didn't want Abraham to sacrifice Issac, He wanted Abraham to see his own devotion, and that by being devoted to the Lord, he would be provided for.
God asks us to do things that seem impossibly difficult, but he truly has what's best for us in his heart, and will provide for us what we need. He will never burden us with more than we can handle.
2006-08-25 16:47:56 · answer #2 · answered by Robin J. Sky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God was testing Abraham, to see if he trusted Him. Abraham was willing to do whatever God asked. But you see, God did not make him kill his son, He provided the ram in the bushes to be the sacrifice. This is a foreshadowing of what God did for us by sending his only son who DID die as the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
The lesson was not about murder, it was about obedience. Hope this helps you.
2006-08-25 16:44:39 · answer #3 · answered by Shmootsy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was the total devotion thing, as you know, God is very much against human sacrifice. God had no intention of allowing abraham to kill Isaac.
2006-08-25 16:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes dear, there is a great message in this test that God has given Abraham, but you have gone so far away from the truth behind it. First God new that Abraham would give his son a sacrifice and therefore the test was intended to boast the faith of Abraham 1000 folds because of the Love of God to Abraham. What you missed from the interpretation is that Abraham said in his heart that God promised that my descendant which shall come from Isaac will be more than the number of the stars. Abraham, therefore, went through the test saying in his heart that after I slay the boy, God will raise him from death and return his life back because in him I am promised to have so many descendants, therefore he cannot die. Abraham believed that God will raise Isaac from death; that is why he went through the test, and not because of what you thought it would be, namely, would Abraham slay his only child or not? The test was would Abraham believe that I will raise his child from death after he slay his only child?
2006-08-25 17:00:35 · answer #5 · answered by lonelyspirit 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The message is that we have to trust that God has a better plan. Keep in mind that God didn't let Abraham go through with killing his son, but provided a ram. I believe that's also a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
God bless
2006-08-25 16:44:18 · answer #6 · answered by trace 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I see a positive message in Abraham's great faith...not believing for a moment that Abraham doubted God's promise would be fulfilled in Isaac...I see a positive message in Isaac's willingness to be sacrificed...trusting in God that He would keep His promise to him...and I see a positive message in the ram...God provides a substitute.
I hear a positive message when Jesus says to Peter "would you really die for me, Peter?" knowing full well that Peter is about to deny Him three times before the rooster crows in the morning. But, after His resurrection, Jesus allows Peter to reaffirm his love for Him three times...full circle.
It may take a bit of thought to connect these two stories, but I have confidence in you....
0;-)
2006-08-25 16:57:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is said that the story of Abraham is fore shadowing the sacrifice of Jesus. But the question is if God and Jesus are one then God did not sacrifice his son, as he instructed Abraham, but rather commited suicide and the story of Abraham is meaningless.
2006-08-25 16:46:31 · answer #8 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Abraham's sacrifice of his son showed his unshakable faith in God's ability to resurrect him. Hebrews 11:17-19.
2006-08-25 16:48:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think really your just taking it too critically. It wasn't ever God's intention of course to have his son killed. However just a show of faithfulness, I don't look at it anymore or any less.... since he didn't sacrifice the kid, because of God's will just doesn't seem like it was all the bad.
2006-08-25 16:46:54 · answer #10 · answered by schr91 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋