"Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering..." (Genesis 22:2b)
I have two sons; and my life's work is tied up in what I like to call "the things of God." I wonder: In how many of my "religious enterprises" have I sacrificed my sons on an altar of supposed obedience to God's will? I remember spending an evening playing at a church meeting when it would have been more fun to spend that evening playing with my sons. In truth I remember several such meetings. I was convinced of both my duty and of God's will then. Now? Not as much...still, feeling a degree of uncertainty in retrospect is better than feeling any uncertainty in the moment.
Abraham doesn't seem to have any doubts about God's instruction. He is told to sacrifice his son, and although God gave no schedule, no timetable, no deadline, Abraham rose early the next day to carry out God's orders. (Genesis 22:3)
I'm curious about Genesis 22:5, when Abraham leaves his servants behind and tells them, "...We will worship and then we will come back to you." Does Abraham have confidence that, in spite of the order to sacrifice his son, both he and his son will return safely, or is his explanation to the servants a subterfuge to prevent them from knowing his intention to sacrifice Isaac?
On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.
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