Genesis 22: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Last updated on: January 31, 2012 at 7:22 am by Dillon Burroughs

Genesis 22: The Ultimate Sacrifice 2012-01-31T07:22:59-05:00 Dillon Burroughs

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” -Genesis 22:12-18

At 100 years old, Abraham had a son. A few years later, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. We expect Abraham to object. After all, he had acted like Sarah was his sister when he was in Egypt. He had attempted to bypass God’s plan for children by having a child with his servant. But this time Abraham obeyed.

We read of no objections. Abraham took the instructions literally, all the way to the point of raising a knife against his own child. The reader is horrified, as is Abraham, when God intervenes. Abraham is told he passed the test and would now certainly be blessed. Why? Abraham would do anything God commanded.

If someone were to attempt this today, he would be arrested for attempted murder. Yet this event simply foreshadows the sacrifice Jesus, the Son of God, would later make on the cross. Jesus gave his life as the ultimate sacrifice. He held nothing back.

Are we willing to live with all-out commitment to Christ? I’m not talking about child sacrifice, but about obedience. If God says to do something, will we do it? This is the goal of our lives. We are not called to live our own way; we are called to live for Him.

+++

Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.

Handwritten copies of the Bible

Dillon Burroughs

genesis 22

holy writ

Previous Post

January 30, 2012

Genesis 21: A Promise Fulfilled

Next Post

February 1, 2012 Genesis 23: Mourning the Loss of a Loved One

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category handwrite the entire bible handwritten bible Handwritten copies of the Bible transcribe the bible

Select a Month July 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first person murdered?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Abel Jeremiah Elijah Isaiah