Abraham's Sacrifice
 Genesis 22

Hurray for digital Bibles! You can find ones that cross-reference the original Hebrew words romanized into our alphabet, giving Strong's definitions of each Hebrew or Greek word one by one.

When someone's application of a Bible story makes you cringe, look up the original words. Below is a rough presentation of the word definitions, with punctuation added and words placed to make sense.

God's instructions for Abraham's ultimate sacrifice...
Take then your son/builder of family name
your only/beloved whom you love with affection
your laughter/Isaac.

Walk toward the land Moriah
ascend there smoke/holocaust
over one/first mountain range which I say to

Most Bibles say in verse 2 that God instructed Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. What I saw in the simplest, purest version was simply a request to take him along.
Abraham took two servant children with him, Isaac split wood for the offering and they walked toward the junction God had designated.

When they got closer, Abraham asked the servant children to wait there. Abraham took the wood and put it on Isaac and they walked together.

They both exclaimed "hey!"
look, there's fire and a gazelle, but where's the sheep/goat for the offering?

Abraham said, "God sees the offering sheep," and they walked two united.
Some have interpreted this verse as Abraham knowing it would be Isaac, but notice the verse before, where they both wondered.
They came to the spot that God designated,
and Abraham built himself and alter there. He arranged his wood.
He tied Isaac his son with thongs,
Put him upon the top, in affliction.
Up until this point, there is no instruction from God about what the sacrifice would be.

Abraham moves forward in the only path he sees, as most of us do when feel God leading us.

We have heard advice that once God calls you to something, it will take significant preparation, training and waiting for all the pieces to come together. Then there are teachings that promote moving out in faith, as God will not activate the promise until you step out. Both are supported by scripture, but God also teaches about patience and wisdom, defending the weak, protecting others.

There were very few instructions about offerings and gifts to God at that time.

Here is a fine example of what we tend to do when we take God's initial leading and run swiftly, blindly, leaving God in the dust.
Abraham took the knife circumspectly and drew his hand back.

An angel of God called out from the sky, Abraham! Abraham! Hey!

Do not once take action toward the child or do anything
For now I recognize that you revere God
You didn't withhold your only son from me.
The exclamations show that God wanted Abraham's attention immediately. He did not want this to take place.
Abraham lifted his eyes and saw a ram in the thicket.
Abraham, Jehovah walked himself/his ram/strong
And Abraham named the place "Jehovah sees."
My interpretation could be off, but it appears that God walked with him and they performed the sacrifice together.

Jesus walked with us on earth, shared discussions and meals and concerns, then became the sacrifice for our sins.

We don't have to strive for perfection, for God's approval, for right standing. We still have trouble giving up that control and saying, ok God, you can cover my mistakes. The important thing is that I walk with you, not run ahead to prove myself worthy and right.

Abraham assumed that God was tougher than He actually was.
An angel called out from the sky a second time
and said that Abraham caused God to notice,
not withholding his one and only son
The next part is odd, and could be very touching. The word for kneel/bless/adore implies either before God or Man...blessing either direction, and it almost appears to be back and forth. Translators might have considered it blasphemous to say that God adored Abraham.
Adore,
adore.

increase,
increase your seed

Star lofty,
sand on the lip of the sea

animal seed/fruit/posterity

you gate for adversary
What a wonderful benefit, to be in charge of the coming and going of the enemy.
Bless (by God or Man) seed over nations of the earth where they intelligently hear my voice.
Abraham was willing to give all. God had not asked all, but was pleased with Abraham's generosity and yieldedness.
Thank God that he covers our mistakes!

Isn't this amazing? There seems to be no mention of God asking Abraham for human sacrifice. Every Bible I have seen and sermon I have heard interprets it as a test of obedience. Reading deeper, we see that it's not about what we can do for God. History is full of examples of our usual zeal to please God on our own. Instead, this appears a story of His appreciation over our dedication, and His intervention to always cover us. Once more, Abraham was saved by his faith.
Read about other Biblical controversies

The Footing of Your Faith workbook

Phrases and some interpretation taken from The Bible Library, from ValuSoft, Ellis Enterprises. The limited version is only about $10, and expands to 100 sources of translations, concordances, maps, theology, etc. Most phrases shown were not direct quotes, but included selections from definition choices.



Text and graphics copyright ©2003 Josiah Publishing and its licensors. All rights reserved. Printing allowed for personal one-time use only. Bible verse versions are the property of individual publishers.
Josiah Publishing PO Box 143 North Chili NY 14514 editor@josiahnews.com
Editorial Note: In the original Hebrew, past and present tense are not indicated, so tenses shown are my adjustments. The language of the time also doesn't use filler words like "and," "the" and punctuation. Adjectives tend to sit after nouns. Possessive self is broadened to himself, self, his, etc.

Find educational supports and Josiah tee shirts!
Josiah Products