In my last column, I wrote about all those instances in the Bible where God seems to encourage an attitude of questioning. To some readers, a rather obvious counterexample might have sprung to mind. What about the binding of Isaac? The amount of ink spilled on this topic throughout Christian and Jewish history is measured in barrels, so I do not mean to provide more than a cursory look into this passage. Nonetheless, it will be illustrative of God’s demands on our daily lives.
First, it is useful to recall the context. God first appears to Abraham and tells him to leave his city and his family and go to a foreign land, promising that if he does, “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great” (Gen. 12:1-2). Shortly thereafter, Abraham gathers his possessions and leaves. After a while, Abraham is party to a most strange event. God tells him to bring a number of animals onto a field, which he cuts in half and sets before him, the two halves set some space apart from each other (Gen. 15:9-10). That night, Abraham sees God pass through the bisected animals (v. 17).
This event, which many might pass over with confusion, would be unthinkable to an ancient Semitic person. It mimics an ancient Middle-eastern treatise ceremony, where the defeated king would pass through the bisected animals, usually promising to not take up arms against the victorious king. Essentially, it meant that the defeated king accepted to be cut in half if he did not keep his word. Crucially for the event in Genesis 15, however, it is not Abraham who is promising fealty to God, but God Who is promising fealty to Abraham and his descendants.
Imagine being witness to this spectacle. The God of the Universe has just taken an oath—implying that He should be cut in half if He does not keep it—to you and your descendants. Later, God promises Abraham that he will have a son by his wife Sarah. He converses with Abraham and allows him to argue regarding the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:17-32). God visits again after Isaac is born to counsel Abraham about his illegitimate son, Ishmael (Gen. 21:12). Throughout this time, things have gone well for Abraham and God’s blessing has been upon him.
Finally, we come to the matter at hand. After all these things, God says, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you” (Gen. 22:2). The next morning, Abraham gathers the items necessary for a sacrifice and his son, and they set off. As they are about to reach the appointed place, Isaac notices what appears to be a glaring oversight on his father’s part. There is wood, fire, and a knife, but no sheep to sacrifice. Abraham responds, “God will provide for Himself a lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:8).
The rest is history. God does provide a lamb, Abraham’s faithfulness is proven, Isaac is unharmed, and the two have an undoubtedly awkward trip back to their house. Two points merit attention. First, in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection, one might pause at God’s request. It is as if the Father asks Abraham, “Will you go as far for Me as I will go for you?” To us, Abraham’s descendants (Gal. 3:29), He asks the same question. Second, we are not told that Abraham has an opportunity to discuss this request with God. In light of this, one might take his response to Isaac in two ways. Either Abraham does not believe that God will provide a sheep for the sacrifice and is thus deceiving his son, or he is quietly hoping that God will. I believe the second option makes more sense. God has asked Abraham to give up the person he holds most dear, and Abraham is hoping against hope that he will not have to go through with it. After we have experienced God’s love and His blessing, God sets the same question before us: “Will you give your life for me, as I gave My life for you?” On this question, He will not negotiate. If we do make that terrible choice, our life will not only not be lost, but it will be found, as He Himself told us, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 16:25).
Gjergji Evangjeli served as the Editor-In-Chief of The Torch. He had previously served as the Executive Editor and the World News section editor. He is currently pursuing a ThM at the BC School of Theology and Ministry. Gjergji is interested in the patristic period, specifically in the apologists of the second century. He is an ardent defender of the Oxford comma.
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