Christians - Why did God tell Abraham to kill his son?

Question

If God is ALL KNOWING, then why would he need to test Abraham's faith?

Genesis 22:1-12
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

2 Then God said, "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."

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

6 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, 7 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?"

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

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, 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. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022:1-12&version=31;

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."

NOW I KNOW YOU FEAR GOD!

My whole point being shouldn't have God already known that Abraham would fear him and that he would have went through this for him?

Don't you think this is rather traumatic for the whole father/son relationship?

Sorry son, I was willing to kill you because God told me to.. ah shucks dad, no worries yo, I would have done the same thing to you if God had only asked [group hug] and end scene...

Answer 1

Its really a story that is a metaphor for the messiah.

But if you are to take the bible literally, then you have to admit, that God is a bit of a jerk.

Its like the president, telling you, that you have to put your kids up for adoption to prove your love for country. Then after filling out the paper work, telling you it was only a test.

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If any Human being performed tests of faith, like this one, they would be universally denounced and called cruel, but when God does it, its loving? CRAZY

Answer 2

Because God's relationship with Abraham was based on God giving and fulfilling various promises to bless him. This included a promise to provide a son by Sarai/Sarah. This was effectively impossible by natural means, because of Sarah's age and barrenness. She laughed at the idea. But the birth did happen, and God has blessed the line of Isaac (and indeed Ishmael as well in a more materialistic way), and of course eventually the Messiah came from the line.

So Abraham had become a man of faith by the time of the Isaac sacrifice. According to the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, he knew that God would probably raise him from the dead, since a key thing he had learned was that God fulfilled his promises - and Isaac was named the 'son of promise' by God.

The test strengthened Abraham's faith.

Far more importantly it provided prophetic images of what would happen 2000 years later. The event took place on mount Moria, believed by Jews to be the same as Mount Zion in Jerusalem. 2000 years later God's Son was sacrificed there. In the Isaac event, God freed Isaac and provided a sacrifice for Abraham instead - a goat caught in a tree. So Jesus dying on the tree (which Peter and others called the cross at times) in our place is prophesied, from a christian view.

Possibly also it gave God a right to sacrifice Jesus for our sins, as God is absolutely pure. I've heard that suggested, possibly it is true.

Answer 3

Several good answers. If you study archeology and history, they will confirm the Bible. The spot that Abraham was to sacrifice Isac is the same spot that Jesus was put to death. God had several reasons to ask this of Abraham. God can give us many life lessons from a few words, that we can use for different situations. But I think mostly He was setting the stage for a future event where He would provide the perfect sacrifice. Don't just believe me, I spent years at the library and on the computer studying. You can do the research for yourself, that way you know what is true and what is not.

Answer 4

While I will grant the symbolic parallel between Jesus and Isaac. I doubt Isaac felt very comforted as he saw the knife raised above his father's head.

The reason given was to test Abraham's faith.

I'm thinking that very few of us would be cool with the idea of someone doing that today--and citing this scripture.

The literal narrative is scary here.

Answer 5

i think that not only was this to show jehovah that he would do whatever he said.. this was also for abraham and his son.. and the people around him and the angels to all see and notice abrahams faith. abraham would do ANYTHING for god and this is a wonderful wonderful example not only to the angels, abraham and his son and the people around him that know the story but us today.

Answer 6

A person grows with tests.

A test is not test if it doesn't go against your logic, your nature, your faith, your beliefs.

Abraham was living in a society of people that he was constantly convincing not to sacrifice their children, Abraham had been promised a descendance earlier by G-d himself,

G-d's command to kill his son was against logic, his beliefs, everything.
Still, Abraham was ready to show to G-d his total devotion and do it.

Answer 7

If God recognized to me and instructed me to take my remarkable son to the authentic of a mountain and sacrifice him in his call, i'm sorry, yet i could tell him to **** good off. i like my son extra beneficial than something in this worldwide. in spite of if Abraham knew God could grant an option sacrifice, and in spite of the certainty that Abraham depended on God to convey Isaac lower back from the lifeless it may nonetheless be a harrowing journey for any parent. If Abraham believed God could convey Isaac lower back from the lifeless he nonetheless knew that Isaac could would desire to journey the excruciating soreness of the certainly sacrifice. If Abraham truley believed God could stop the sacrifice on the final 2d there could nonetheless be doubts on the lower back of his concepts, as while situations contain ur babies moms and dads will consistently be scared that something will flow incorrect. And for God to ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, whether he believed it may be stopped, particularly it extremely is basically some ill concepts interest on gods area? what style of sicko asks a parent to kill their baby whether they stop the homicide on the final minute? Can u think of the turmoil of Abraham?can u think of the concern of dropping a son at your individual hand? If somebody immediately asked me to homicide my own son and that i agreed, basically to be stopped on the final minute how do you think of human beings could respond while instructed of my tale? they could think of that despite the fact that this individual stopped the sacrifice, that he remains a psychotic, skill hungry weirdo who has a sadistic outlook on lifestyles and needs human beings to 'instruct' their faith by utilising putting them in the process the worst journey a parent can ever think of. on the instant if God replaced into replaced with a human however the story saved a similar then 'God' could be arrested and banged up for lifestyles. which you would be able to all you believers available it extremely is high quality for God to devote undesirable crimes, yet while a real individual commits a similar crime they'd desire to be locked up for good.... Double standards plenty?

Answer 8

God gave man free will to make choices and yes he did test Abraham because he wanted to see if Abraham loved him more or his son. He tests us everyday as well. I do believe he knows everything so I believe that these tests are to prove something to ourselves as well. Maybe I'm wrong but this is my opinion.

Answer 9

He was testing Abraham with the ultimate sacrifice done in similitude of God the Father sacrificing His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Answer 10

Many will say that God was testing Abraham's faith. Others will say if God knows everything than why does he need to test his faith. Some will say that God wanted to demonstrate Abraham's obedience to all mankind but the answer is Jesus. God wanted to say that in Issac's place He will give His son to die for our sins. When you examine the Bible with central theme focused on Jesus, a lot of events in the Bible will take whole new meaning for you.

Answer 11

God knew Abraham would be obedient to him,no matter
what he ask so when Abraham obeyed God,then God
stayed his hand and Blessed him.