This is of course, the account of when Abraham was tested by the Lord concerning his son Isaac.
The Scriptures clearly show us that Abraham did not question or doubt God for a single moment. But what about Isaac?
The only words from Isaac recorded are simply, "We have the wood for burning....but where is the offering?"
I wonder if Isaac held the same faith as Abraham while he was laying on the altar ready to be killed? We don't hear about any fussing or crying and what-not..........this part of the story amazes me more than the "Faith of Abraham" theme.
Don't forget about Isaac's faith as well.
Christians, your thoughts.
2007-09-13 03:57:11 · 35 answers · asked by primoa1970 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thank you all for the wonderful answers so far......great job.
2007-09-13 04:24:21 · update #1
This story is essentially a foreshadow of Jesus' sacrificial death. Just as Jesus (the Son) was obedient unto death, so was Isaac, who unquestioningly followed his father's command.
2007-09-13 04:01:04 · answer #1 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 12⤊ 4⤋
First off we usually think of Isaac as a boy....But to be an acceptable sacrifice....like Jesus (even though Abraham hadn't had that example yet.) Isaac would have had to be older...more like a young adult which explains why he wasn't fussing or crying but shows absolute trust in His father and that Abraham had a purpose. The true faith is that he allowed his father to tie him up and put him on the altar knowing what was to come. And he could have run off but he stayed with his father. Up to this point God had been known as the God of Abraham. Later it's added the God of Abraham and Isaac (much later Jacob is added) That shows that Isaac had faith in God as well. He saw how God preserved his life and at some point (we're not shown where in scripture) Abraham's God became Isaac's God as well.
It never says anything about Isaac teaching his sons but obviously they learned something as Jacob's name was added as well...The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
2007-09-13 17:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, he was an old man, Isaac was young and I'm pretty sure somewhere around 30 years old. He could have easily overtaken his aged father in strength and taken off for the hills never to be seen again. However, Abraham's devotion to God had by this time rubbed off on Isaac and when Abraham willingly obeyed God's wishes, Isaac in turn obeyed his father Abraham's wishes.
Abraham had implicit faith in God even though he didn't understand just why God was asking such a thing of him in sacrificing his son like a lamb. In turn, Isaac had implicit faith in HIS father and what he was being asked to do, even though Isaac probably was confused as well. Isaac had enough faith to not run, even though he could have.
2007-09-13 04:10:35 · answer #3 · answered by the art babe 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Who sacrifices the greatest the chicken with eggs or the pig with bacon. One is given a contribution the other a total sacrifice. It took far more faith for Isaac than Abraham. Isaac was a teenager and was much stronger than his 100 or so years old dad. He could have said, Dad if you have that much faith in God then you jump on the altar! You see, we act as if he was a helpless child. Isaac knew something was up when he was being tied up. Regardless whether it was in his day or our day, teenagers want to live. Isaac had far more faith than his dad, for he was willing to give his all. After the sacrifice, Abraham would have gone back down the mountain. His heart would have been broken, but he would not have given the ultimate sacrifice. You think about it!
I was a soldier; I committed my life for three years to Uncle Sam. However, another soldier went to Iraq and went beyond a contribution. He gave his all because of the faith in had in this country. Who contributed more?
2007-09-13 04:13:04 · answer #4 · answered by Richard S 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Isaac could not fathom what his dad would do for G_d!
Isaac sad "Where is the sacrifice"...that's nothing like Christ's full realization "Take this cup of poison from me".
Why would God kill a MIRACLE child, with a prophecy of greatness on his head?
No doubt that Isaac was faithful to his father, and trusted God, but I don't think he really knew that he would ACTUALLY die, until he was so bound up that he was unable to stop Abe.
It was symbolic of Christ's sacrificial death, but let's not imagine Isaac freely CHOSE to die for sins as Jesus did, WHEN THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW.
2007-09-13 08:47:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
To Christians it is an example or as sometimes referred to as a typology of the coming of Jesus Christ. Abraham was obedient to God's command to sacrifice Isaac (his legitimate heir) as an example of God's sending His son to be sacrificed for our sins. Note, God did not allow the sacrifice of Isaac and stopped Abraham from continuing and substituted a ram instead. In the case of Christ at Calvary He represented the sacrificial Lamb as an sin atonement offering for our sins. The significance of Abraham's willingness is his obedience no matter what the cost.
Isaac not only exhibited obedience but also shared faith in not only his father Abraham, but trust and faith in God. In Heb. 11:1 we read the definition of faith as follows; "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Both Abraham and Isaac shared this same faith and trust and followed the Lord's command in obedience.
gatita_63109
2007-09-13 04:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by gatita 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Abraham so believed that if God told him to raise the knife and let it fall, the God would resurrect Isaac, and the sacrifice would be restored. Abraham trusted God, and in his belief were the actions of his faith. To have faith you have the understanding and the focal point of your belief, and then you have the confidence in that belief to carry out exactly what is expected of you. Today God speaks to us through His Word, and instills the understanding in our minds by the Holy Spirit. Our test today by God, is our action in caring out what He expects of us through His holy Word.
Isaac held the same faithaccording to Genesis 22:11
2007-09-13 04:56:33 · answer #7 · answered by onoscity 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God tells us to love him more than anything on earth, I do believe this was a test of faith for Abraham. But God tests us each and everyday in our belief, God did offer his son up for death on the cross, to save all of us. I love my children so very, very much, but I do love God even more, he blessed me w/ them, and if I die tomorrow, I know he is the only one who can save my children. He knows our every thought, he protects children everyday from their parents. What I'm trying to say is he is our only true protector of the heart. God also did not let anything happen to Isaac, I don't think Isaac knew what was going on inside the heart of his father, how could he? I don't know if any of us can read what is on someone elses heart. I believe Abraham struggled w/ this, but he also must have wanted God to protect his son.
2007-09-13 04:20:29 · answer #8 · answered by Peng-you 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could have been a case of faith in his father, Abraham.
Anyway, the theme is all about the development of Abraham's faith over time until this point when he demonstrated complete faith and trust in God. Hebrews brings out an interesting angle on this.
.
2007-09-13 04:21:44 · answer #9 · answered by Hogie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Isaac may have been quite/near adult at this time. Thus if we realize Abraham's advanced age, Isaac probably could have overpowered his father.
That he didn't tells us something about his faith and his relationship with Abraham.
2007-09-13 04:14:34 · answer #10 · answered by Fuzzy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
WOW this is so awesome because I was JUST READING this yesterday morning!! This part of the story and I thought the exact same thing! I mean I wondered about what Isaac was thinking at that time....Apparently Isaac did not fight his father or try to squirm as far as we know-- he just went along with it-- I pictured this young boy lying there quiet staring at his father....but yeah, we do not know much about what Isaac was going through, except that God shows us he did ly there waiting....
So yes his faith must of been HUGE! He may of been confused, but of course he must of known why he was lying there, he knew what his father was going to do, and knew what that alter was for. We can look to see who Isaac became!
Genesis 25:11
After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.
Hebrews 11:20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
In Genesis 27 it speaks about the time Isaac was old and wanted to bless Esau, but remember Jacob came in, because his mother told him to dress as Esau and bring him the food, becuase she wanted Jacob to receive his fathers blessing-- after Isaac found out, he was still faithful to give Jacob the blessing, did not seem angry (from what I have read in the scriptures) So yes His faith in God was definately strong, from what I have seen in his later years~
2007-09-13 06:23:59 · answer #11 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋