If God asked you to murder your own child as a test of your love for Him, would you be as faithful as Abraham?

Question

Genesis 22:2-19
Then God said to Abraham, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

…. Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

For those that answered in the affirmative, I just heard from God.... He says to immediately pick up the phone and call your nearest Child Protective Services. Tell them you are a danger to yourself and your child.

Answer 1

If I thought I heard God telling me to kill anyone for any reason, I hope that I would have just enough sense left to run for the psychiatric hospital.

I do believe in God, but I do not believe he asks anyone to kill for him. Not even as a test of faith.

Answer 2

First of all, I would see that I am not hallucinating, and that I am not hearing the words of some intoxicated demigod, or evil pretender.

So considering that it was actually God, and I knew it beyond doubt.....

If I was asked, I would tell God that I cannot do it because I am not realized in His supreme plan. I would argue with God. Tell Him, "why don't you kill me instead?" Ask Him for reasons etc.

I would tell God, "You are very naughty for telling me this thing i cannot do.. Now I understand the difficulty that Arjun faced, (and overcame)... however, those men were sinners, what has my child done? why are you playing with me my Lord?" Then I would beg forgiveness and offer Him anything else....

Answer 3

Abraham had the promise of God that through Issac his children would be blessed Abraham believed God.
Abraham told Issac that the lord would provide himself a lamb.
Abraham's faith assured him Issac would live.
This is a prophesy of the coming of the lamb of God.
The sacrifce that God made for us is the only sacrifice the world will ever need.

I pray that I will always believe and trust God as Abraham demonstrated.

Answer 4

God basically examined Abraham's faith. Did you examine something of the story, specifically, the place God provided a ram for the sacrifice? Or that God informed Abraham in specific "do not kill him!" even whilst Abraham had his knife raised? Jesus, via the way, observed this incident whilst He reported, to the Jews, "Your father Abraham had fun to verify My day, and he became happy". The irony, as you call it, is that folk pounce on remoted circumstances, like this, and take it out of context or later fact, and proceed to stroll faraway from the whole Bible. not something incorrect with interpreting, or maybe asking questions for clarifying, yet there's no ought to take one occasion and make this sort of projection or extrapolation from it.

Answer 5

He was testing his faith.
You see that he stopped him from doing that.
God would not let it continue. Its just that Faith is a big issue for human beings and you never know when they are going to deceive you or he may wanted to see how much faith and love he has for him. Love is powerful.

We cant see God now because of our deep sin.
if someone said that to us, a lot of christians reaction would think thats satan to tell us to do that. Todays times are diffrent than their times. They could see Jesus Christ apperance and see God in a diffrent form and actually can have a conversation with them.We cant have it like they use to communicate except with prayer and scripture with faith and Holy Spirit. God today may test us in diffrent ways by now. Yes I will be willing to do anything he says.

Answer 6

I am sorry to say but I am too attached to my baby. I am not such an advanced soul.

Because I have not realized that my body is simply flesh and matter and that my soul is the real me.

The soul is not slain when the body is slain.
(Bhagavad Gita)

I know that it is a test of faith. Just like the story of Parasuram who kept his word and cut the head of his own mother. But because he had so much punya and greatness, he was able to bring her back to life with his fathers mercy.

Answer 7

I wouldn't've been "as faithful as Abraham" even when I was a Catholic. No way. My son will not be killed by my hand or anyone elses, not even for the God I used to believe in.

Answer 8

I just sent passage that to a younger relative who wanted to know what I thought were crucial things regarding God worship.

Christians should all say yes, but few would, they would send themselves to a psychiatrist before doing that, and if not face the legal consequence.

Answer 9

I think I would ask the voice for references; after all, it might not be God I was listening to. No, I do not have the faith of Abraham. Cheers

Answer 10

I think we'll all have our faith tested in one way or another.

1 But 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," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."