Biblical stories...?

Question

There are plenty of biblical stories out there that try to explain the ways of god. I believe Jewish stories are the best ones out there...Like, comeon. I grew up watching the Rugrats passover special. ;)

But there are stories that truly do bug me. Like the story about Abraham. In the story, I guess you are supposed to sacrifice a animal for god (or something along those lines)...But god goes to Abraham one night and says, "Do not kill the animal. Instead, kill your son." Abraham was all for it. He prepared to kill his son and as he was going to stab him, god says, "Wait, stop. You have passed my test" (or something along those lines).

God only wanted to see how much Abraham loved him.

Now, personally I would NEVER kill my own flesh and blood for some voice that I heard in my head.

But that's just me.

What kind of message were they trying to get across with this? Would you do that to your own child to show your love for god?

If I got the story wrong, let me know. But I'm sure you would have in a rude manner anyway.

Answer 1

It was the strength of the covenant between God and Abraham in the willingness to sacrifice his son..........a testimony.

Compare this with the Jesus, the begotten Son of God.

Answer 2

It was a test of faith. Did Abraham trust the Yahweh Elohim (LORD God) when God asked him if he would sacrifice his one and only son?

The son asked dad (Abraham) where is the sacrifice on the way up the mountain. Abraham said, "God will provide.".

Abraham trusted God and obeyed all the way to the top. At the top, he prepared his son to be sacrificed. The angel of the LORD stopped him. Saying not to hurt his son.

Then Abraham saw the LORD Gods provision. It was an animal caught in the thorns. The LORD God provided the sacrifice.

In the new testament it is written that this is symbolic of God the Father sacrificing the perfect Lamb of God without blemish for the remission of our sin. Isaac wouldn't have been the perfect sacrifice since he had sinned somewhere and wouldn't have been able to raise from the dead.

But Abraham knew that even if he would sacrifice his son, that God would raise him from the dead to keep his promise, that Abraham would be a father of nations.

It was very important that Abraham obeyed God, because it was what God the Father would do for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have ever lasting life.

Some sinful people had sacrificed their children to devils, thinking it was Gods will. They were wrong, because this actually grieves God. I think that this is one reason Jesus had to go through this (the cross), to cover even the worst sin of murdering innocent. No other sacrifice will compare to what God did for the remission of our sins.

So, that put an end to child sacrifices. Some cults still do it, because they rejected Christ and are satanists.

Answer 3

In Genesis 17, God assured Abraham that He would make Abraham into a mighty nation; that Abraham would be the father of a multitude of nations. Abraham believed God at His word.
This would begin with the seed that Abraham would bring forth with his wife, Sarah. Thus Isaac was conceived and brought forth. This was the promise. Abraham knew that.
Abraham knew that when he ascended the mount with Isaac, to sacrifice his only begotten son, thus he knew that God would provide the sacrifice. His faith in the Word of God and the promises of God allowed him to follow the Lord to the very moment of sacrifice. Isaac asked his father Abraham,"Father, where is the lamb for the sacrifice/"
Abraham responded with, "God will see to it, my son."
This faith, which is actually what was being tested, was counted as righteousness, and this faith was what our heavenly father was demonstrating by requesting the sacrifice.
Now, let's parallel this with God, sacrificing His only son for the world. God did not withhold Him, but did what He had promised from the foundation of the world.
Linda

Answer 4

Great question. In oreder to really understand the Old Testament, you need the light of the New Testament.
God had alredy promised Abraham that his son,Isaac, would be the father of a great nation. Abraham knew God, and knew that God COULD NOT go back on His word. At the time , Isaac was not married and had no children.So, Abraham knew that even if he were to kill Isaac, God would raise Him from the dead.

Hbr 11:17 ¶ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

What does it mean " in a figure"? It means that the whole episode is pointing to a time in the future when another Father (God) would sacrifice his Son ( Jesus) who would be raised from the dead.

When Isaac wen up with Abraham, he carried wood which is a picture of Christ carrying the cross.

When God first told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac He said: " Take thy son, thine ONLY son, whom you love". Was Isaac Abraham's only son? No. Abraham also had Ishmael. But it was Isaac who was the promised son. You can't help but notice the parallel in the New Testament

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Old Tetament ALL points to Jesus Christ.
Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Answer 5

maybe you really don't know the God of the bible.because if you know Him,you will never question God and the actions of Abraham.first of all the God of the bible is the the creator of heavens and the earth.and he created man Out the DUST of the ground.and Abraham understand this.and believe on this God.and Abraham fully believed and know the God of the bible.did not hesitate to offer his only son upon the request of God.because he know that if God can create man out of the DUSTof the ground.He can give him another son or sons.that what Abraham believed.and that is why God loved Abraham,and promised him.that his seed multiply.and will enter the promised land

Answer 6

The Bible is God's Word, and every story in it was related and preserved for a purpose. Take the time to really study the Bible, where it came from, how it was protected for 100's of years... it is truly awesome and amazing. The story of Abraham goes way, way back and trying to put our culture and values of today as the same as then is just not possible. Abraham became the total example of "faith" to those who followed God. The story was God testing his faith, but also is a total picture of God giving His Son for us. If you noticed in the story, God provided a lamb in the place for a sacrifice....which is a picture of the Lamb of God Who was to one day come and die in our place.
There is no way for us to put ourselves in the position that Abraham was...He just knew God was real....He knew God had promised the miracle of Isaac, and Abraham told Isaac..."God will provide the lamb "....His trust in God was absolute...and hard for us to really understand. Was he willing to follow thru? Yes...but he also trusted God totally.

Every story in the Old Testament has a lesson God's wants us to know. He chose to use the weak, the cowardly, the rebellious to follow Him....just as He uses the ordinary person today. God has not changed and He is "no respector of persons"....He treats us all the same. Look at Noah, Jonah, Gideon, etc. Rather than
choosing which stories....we need to understand what God is
telling us thru them.

Answer 7

Thousands of years ago, the story of Abraham was consider a well written test written by human. Its sole purpose is to tell people they will be tested randomly by god so they had to strengthen their faith constantly.

Through time, many stories are written with the purpose to influence others.

Answer 8

I too, would never EVER kill my own child for God. The God I know doesn't want anyone killed, so if She told me to kill my child, I'd know it wasn't Her talking.

The story is an example of the amount of dedication the biblical God would like of His followers, enough that they would be willing to murder their child for Him.

Blessed Be.