The Faithlessness of Abraham
He said, “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.” Genesis 22:2 NASB
Take – This verse is universally acknowledged as the pivotal example of Abraham’s faithfulness to God. It is the basis for thousands of discussions about obedience, commitment and action. It is the introduction to the Akedah, often viewed as the foreshadowing of the Messiah. But there’s something very strange about this verse and this story; something that should make us shudder.
First, let’s clear up some technical issues. The verb here is laqah (to take) but in this sentence it is written qah-na. The attached particle, na, changes the verb from a command to a request. Abraham is not compelled to do what God asks. He is free to decline. God doesn’t insist; He merely suggests.[1] Abraham volunteers to obey. He doesn’t have to. This, of course, only highlights Abraham’s faithfulness.
Second, we must note that this is the first occurrence of the Hebrew ‘ahav (love). This crucial word begins its etymological history in a story of sacrifice. That sets the tone of all of the rest of ‘ahav thinking.
Finally, on the technical side, we recognize that this is a test. The narrator tells us quite plainly, “God tested Abraham” (Genesis 22:1). The verb is nasa’. It means to try, to assess, to put to proof in order to determine the quality of something. We know that God is not instructing Abraham to perform child sacrifice, something that was common in Abraham’s time but would have been unthinkable from YHVH. But the point is that Abraham doesn’t know it is only a test. He can’t know, for if he did the test would be a sham. For Abraham, this is as real as it gets.
And that is the problem. We have been given some inside information, but Abraham hasn’t. That means we must think like Abraham if we are going to understand this story. We don’t get to read it backwards, knowing the outcome before it begins. And that means we need to ask this question: What father would ever consider sacrificing his beloved son without so much as a whimper of protest? Would you? If God came to you in a vision and said, “Now I would like you, please, to get up in the morning and take your child to a place I will show you and slaughter your child for My sake,” would you do it? Wouldn’t you at least argue? Wouldn’t you say, “Lord, did I hear You correctly?” “Lord, how can you ask such a thing?” Would you blindly obey? Would any father in his right mind simply accept that this is what God wants?
Ah, but Abraham isn’t any father, is he? He is the man who stood before God (already a bold move) and argued over the fate of Sodom, a city that he knew deserved punishment. He protested about the destruction of sinners but he said nothing about the slaughter of his son. Abraham, the man whose relationship with God is the epitome of the covenant, doesn’t raise a single word about the obligations of the brit. Don’t spiritualize this! Don’t read the end of the story and dismiss the trauma because you know it turns out well. Be Abraham. What would you do?
Abraham obeys. Actually, he doesn’t precisely “obey.” It wasn’t a command so his response isn’t obedience. Abraham agrees. He agrees when he doesn’t have to. Torah is not upset with asking Abraham to slaughter Isaac. Why isn’t there immediate anxiety and disgust? Why doesn’t Abraham argue the case? What kind of father is he?
Now be Isaac. How trustworthy is your father if he volunteers to kill you because God asks him when it isn’t necessary? How much does your father love you if he is willing to argue about Lot but not about you? What does your father’s action say to you, the sacrifice? How much value does you father really place on you if he is so quick to give you up?
The faithfulness of Abraham toward God is the faithlessness of Abraham toward his son, Isaac. And there are significant, long-term consequences.[2] The story of those consequences is the story of Ya’aqob becoming Yisra’el. You can’t understand this name change until you put yourself in Isaac’s place on the altar.
Better read this story again, from the beginning.
Topical Index: take, laqah, na, please, Akedah, Abraham, Isaac, Genesis 22:2
[1] For further analysis of this unusual verb form, see my article, “The Hidden Please,” on the web site.
[2] See my book, Crossing: The Search for Identity. CLICK HERE.
HEB 11
Will then refer to the scriptural or new covenant meaning of faith and the faithfulness will be the following through of actions based on ones convictions…
Your discussion is interesting as it highlights that God is putting forth a suggestion that did not require any response…
Today a lot of spiritual teachers talk about accepting that God will always provide and this is then deemed the essence or proof of faith as later stated in the claim by Abraham. This deduction now seems not to be the intent of the reminder or reflection found in Hebrews, so it could be an incorrect way of approaching faith to progress towards faithfulness.
FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE What makes your comments more interesting is that it places emphasis on a love relationship or rather a guilt conviction of owing because of… Something very similar to the explanation of the neighbour concept as recorded in Luke 10. Through love or emotional attachment comes a desire/guilt conviction to assist or do and in living out this “feeling” one creates faith the will to do something to change the condition and manifests what you refer to as faithfulness for me the soothing a guilty conscience or feeling of responsibility of being indebted… None of these understandings place a positive requirement on the faith concept.
Yeshua warns because you see you believe… while it is better for them that have not seen yet believe.
True; belief is not faith but seems to be the crucial prerequisite to form faith… As Abraham had experienced the power of God before this request and this conviction made him maybe feel compelled to do something in return…
Different from Abraham we have not had a prior covenant to create a feeling of responsibility or debt… So for me I can not be measured on the same scale of forming faith as Abraham I can just learn from this story that faith per se is not belief but rather a feeling of being indebted. Which I doubt is the intent of a relationship with God as it is a response of love and not guilt. Love referring to a desire to assist or support rather than a conviction being indebted because of…
Is faith formed from love or guilt(?)
Or is faith the feeling of compassion towards…
I see parallels between Abraham and the son of promise and Havvah (Eve) and her son of promise. Both of them were told that out of their progeny would come the Deliverer. Both of them, consequently, put all their hope in their child. To a human, how would you be able to tell whether or not you were idolizing that child? Abraham may have become confused, and it might have taken this much to straighten it back out for him.
We see that Cain became a murderer; a proud opposer of YHVH’s clear instruction. What might Isaac have been tempted to become, we will never know. For all we know, he may have gotten ‘scared straight’ on that altar. Abraham, also, was able to see clearly where the line of his loyalty lay. Isaac ended up broken, yes, perhaps, but he also was left without pride or ambition to contend with, either.
We can always think we see what is, but what is hard for us is to see what might have been.
I have watched my children grow to be adults, I see “us” in them in action and character, We comment that he got that gene from you. I think more than genes children observe and mimic what we do and how we react/respond. What did Issaic observe of Abraham? Sarah? Issaic was faithful.
What text makes you decide that Isaac was faithful?
I know if I’m honest with myself, I most likely wouldn’t have “sacrificed” my child. I would have thought I’d heard wrong. And even if G-d had spoken audibly, I would have questioned if I’d misheard. I would have thought maybe I was being tricked because my G-d doesn’t believe in child sacrifices. Maybe there’s a reason that He didn’t ask Sarah to sacrifice Isaac. Maybe my husband would have had the strength to obey. It’s interesting that Sarah doesn’t stop Abraham (of course he probably didn’t tell her). If she had known, I wonder what she would have done…
Jewish legend suggests that when Abraham returned without Isaac she died on the spot. An interesting interpretation of the impact of this sacrifice.
My feelings have always been that Abraham was deviating from putting God first by starting to worship Isaac. Created instead of Creator. We see many parents today who worship their children. God was requesting Abraham return to compliance. Abraham believed God and since He had promised nations would come out of Issac, Abraham trusted God would work it out. I also see that Issac cooperated. He allowed Abraham to bind him and place him on the altar. When he asked “where is the sacrifice?” He already knew it was him. Both showed absolute trust in God.
I think you might be reading more into the text than it says, especially about Isaac knowing he was the sacrifice. The Hebrew interrogative expresses surprise, not anticipation. There is no text that says Abraham explained to his son what was about to occur. And there is the very odd circumstances of Abraham returning alone, followed by s startling absence of text about Isaac’s relationship with God.
Read Crossing.
P.S.
Isaac.
Abraham was being requested to obey the 1st Commandment. All meaning all.
Just help me here… Abraham and all the individuals that died before Moses’ birth could not have broken any commandment as they were only introduced by Moses. There may have been similar convictions but not commandments from God. Covenants were there, Job’s friends reiterated on similar principles which God clarified when He addressed Job personally, yet God did not mention a commandment that must be kept or respected…
I think you miss the fact that Moses is writing these stories FOR THE ex-slaves coming out of Egypt, not for the characters in the stories. He uses language that THEY would be familiar with. Furthermore, Victor Hamilton’s commentary demonstrates that each of the 10 commandments can already be found in the Genesis text. Don’t apply your sense of Western timelines to this account. That’s not how Hebrew works.
If I met anyone, I mean anyone telling me they were going to sacrifice their child on an altar because their god told them to, I’d think them deranged or their god evil at first glance…..but didn’t Yeshua posit such a challenge in Luke 14:26? Do we have enough information to really understand what was going on here without conjecture and theological gymnastics?
This sounds just like my rabbi on these last two Shabbats. He said the ten commandments were more like 10 suggestions like what you say here it was more a suggestion to Abraham not a command. He also taught that the children of Israel said back we will do and then understand when it came to building the tabernacle from G-d. Maybe Abraham knew to just do and know this was G-d and he would understand later?
Skip,
Thank you so much for dedicating your life to this work! You referenced the “hidden please”from a few years ago and it is one of my favorite studies of yours!
I don’t know whether you received a command or a request for your perseverance with starting this site and maintaining it but either way I am appreciative of your faithfulness and what it has done for my love of the Word of God!
Neither a command nor a request. It was sort of like something within that just had to come out.
This is a classic example of just believing everything we have been taught for years without really examining and thinking through the text. “Well Abraham was faithful to God’s voice……” and he becomes the topic of centuries of “good sermons” and Christian jargon about faith. No one ever stops and thinks through this and questions the fact that GOD ASKED SOMEONE TO KILL HIS SON. And we ignore the ramifications of such, even from YHWH’s own mouth. Every “God fearing” man or woman, knows you would have somebody locked up for even considering such a thing. And then to explain the tension away we want to make it better by giving the “prophetic picture of YHWH and His son Yeshua” as a means to explain it (away).
Here are some Talmudic thoughts on the story:
He did not say to him, “Slaughter him,” because the Holy One, blessed be He, did not wish him to slaughter him but to bring him up to the mountain, to prepare him for a burnt offering, and as soon as he brought him up [to the mountain], He said to him, “Take him down.” – [from Gen. Rabbah 56:8]
The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him (Ps. 89:35): “I shall not profane My covenant, neither shall I alter the utterance of My lips.” When I said to you,“ Take,” I was not altering the utterance of My lips. I did not say to you,“ Slaughter him,” but,“ Bring him up.” You have brought him up; [now] take him down. — [from Gen. Rabbah 56:8]
I am looking forward to more on this, as I have always struggled with the story. Thanks again, Skip for goading us to think!!
I will see you soon in Port St. Joe and will can thoroughly examine this story and all its implications. I’ll bring some books with me.
It wont get here soon enough my friend!
I second that emotion. Thanks Skip!
Has your appetite been whetted? Read Skip’s new book (or PDF): “CROSSING: The Search for Identity”. Thanks Skip; Arnella and I have thoroughly enjoyed this thought provoking study. We are always amazed at your grasp of Torah concepts and blessed by both your enthusiasm and scholarship.
For those of us not able to go to Port St Joe. Will you be posting more on this story. I think I still need more understanding.
The whole story is in my latest book, Crossing, available here
https://skipmoen.com/products/crossing-the-struggle-for-identity/
Thank you Skip for sharing this. In Genesis 22:2 God said ..”and offer him there for a burnt offering..”
The word “burnt” in Hebrew is “olah” so called from the Hiphil of the verb “alah” meaning to cause to ascend as the flame and smoke ascend by burning. In Greek “holocausta, which conveys its meaning as being wholly burnt. I think Abraham understood what he was asking, but there is a very interesting verse about Abraham’s faith and his relationship with God in Hebrews 11; 19 “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead: (King James) In Moffatt’s translation “..for he considered that God was able even to raise men from the dead. Hence he did get him back, by what was a parable of the resurrection.” that brings a whole light into their relationship. He trusted God so wholly and heartily that he believed that was the promised seed as God Had promised him, so that even if this sacrifice was asked, God would be faithful and could raise Isaac from the dead! How’s that for trusting God all the way to the end? Even in Abraham’s acts, there is an emphasis to be dwelt upon and considered..Gen 22: verses 9 & 10 AND they came to the place which God had told him of; AND Abraham built an altar there AND laid the wood in order, AND bound Isaac his son AND laid him on the altar upon the wood. AND Abraham stretched forth his hand, AND took the knife to slay his son. He also gave instructions to his servants in Gen 22: 5..Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship AND COME AGAIN TO YOU.”
Was Abraham lying to his servants thinking that Isaac would never come back or did he have that driving and steadfast faith believing that if he slayed him, God would bring Isaac back to life in resurrection! This was proof of Abraham’s faith, literally “We will come again” in the first person plural. it took them 3 days it says in verse 4 to get to the place. 3 is symbolic of resurrection. In Matthew 27, Christ was also crucified on one of these mountains. It’s the father and the son in the antitype. The sinner is not seen here in this type: his part is subsequent to this, to believe what the Father and the son have done for him in substitution. This is a relationship that is so tight and trusting. Abraham knew in his heart that God would never ask him to do something to hurt him or his family. It’s an unbelievable account of total trust and relinquishing of your will and desires. I can read this over a million times and still fall short of understanding with my limited mind this kind of faith. thank you sharing Skip and making us look back at this. Love always, Len
I have no doubt that Abraham believed, but what about Isaac. Why is the text strikingly absent of Isaac’s return? Why does the text avoid telling us about Isaac’s relationship with God? Why does Isaac appear to live apart from his father? What happened to Isaac’s view of God when he was about to be killed by the faithfulness of his own father? There is more here than Abraham.
This story of Abraham and YHWH’s request of him to sacrifice Isaac, is on the surface,a story of faithfulness. Nothing new there, though it may seem quite morbid and out of character for a loving God. But take a ‘pick’ and crack the surface and discover more meaning then faithfulness, important as that is, in its’ own right. No, discover a God who is absolutely different, then the other gods of that culture and that time. Discover a God who does not want or need child sacrifice, as all the other gods do. No, this God is different. This God is real. This God is in your midst. This God wants to bless you, to make you the recipient of His gracious gifts. You don’t have to be on ‘anxiety meds’ with this God, wondering if you sacrificed too little. The wondering is gone and the difference is obvious.
Love is a Choice
Father Knows Best
Sacrificial Love
[Na] “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love..” (Genesis 22.2)
Isn’t it interesting, God does not COMMAND Abraham, (His friend), but “asks” him to (‘na’ – ‘please!’) obey Him in this (seemingly) horrific act of obedience. Obedience, which btw, is “commanded” throughout the Scriptures.
Listen once more to “the Voice,” the Voice of the Father speaking to us in the book of Proverbs, “my son” the Scriptures say, [God, our Father is speaking], “please” – the hidden Hebrew “na” – “please” listen to your Father’s instruction! Friend, our Father can be trusted! Amen.
This “real-life” story of Abraham and Isaac has a “back-story.” Most stories do. “Events” preceding. God did not just “up and say,” “Yo, Abraham, go kill your kid!” Abraham (are you listening?) had a “history” with God. And so did David. God did NOT say to David, one “random” day — “Hey kid, go kill Goliath!” No, David too, had a history of the faithfulness of our Provider and Deliverer. He knew, as did Abraham, (and this is critical!) God is the ONE who is Faithful!!
How did Abraham “know?” Experientially. The same way David knew. They both had a “history” with God. They both had seen God and experienced God in action! And they knew, from previous “close encounters” God had given them the victory, therefore in “20-20 hindsight” they were both able to trust God with this new “crisis.”
What we have here, from the Grand Weaver, is a pattern. (if you can see it.) Ready? The children of Israel have a problem. A crisis. And (?) God delivers. And then again, (repeat) and then, again (repeat) and then again (repeat). Ahh, but then (here we go again) another “issue” surfaces.. Is God able “this time” to deliver? Listen to those kids whine and cry! “Moses, Moses, we don’t have any blah-blah-blah! Surely God has abandoned us and left us out here in the desert to die!
Kids, do you remember the first time God delivered us? and was Faithful? (that is His Name!) or the second? or the third? or the fourth? Listen again to this: Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, “He loved them to the end!” Hallelujah! Our Redeemer is Faithful and True!
Oh, my forgetful friend! How many times in the Word of God are we enjoined to “remember!”
~ Without faith, it is impossible to please Him! ~ God has spoken. And our (only right) response is? Obedience. Trust (can our “always good Father” be trusted ?) and obey. Listen to His own mother! ~ Whatever He [the Living Word of God] says unto you — DO IT!! ~
Hopefully, by this time in our lives we all know every choice we make has a consequence. And the consequence of our choice to obey Him (in all things, great and small) will be?
~ A faithful man will abound with blessings ~(Proverbs 28.20) Ask Abraham! He knew as did John, because “God is Love,” — “God will provide Himself, the Lamb!”
(Genesis 22.8)
I think Abraham agreed and didn’t argue because of what previously occurred in Genesis 15. God makes his covenant promise with Abram. Specifically in verses 4-6, Abram believes that his descendants will be as many as the stars he can see starting with the child Isaac, who is yet to come. No doubt Abraham would have been remembering, believing, and leaning heavily on this when God later asks if Abraham will take Isaac. Perhaps Abraham is reasoning “hmm, God promised and gave me my seed Isaac. God also made a covenant promise with me that through my seed Isaac, my descendants will be as numerous as the stars and will inherit this land. Even though I don’t understand how this will happen, God made a covenant promise to me that it will happen.”
What I never understood was how Abraham knew this was the one true God asking him to do such a thing. Growing up, I was always taught to, “test the spirits” (1 John 4) by comparing what was said to the written word. If it doesn’t line up, it’s not from God. Putting myself in the story just until that point, I would have said, “No, you can’t be the one asking me to do this.” Abraham must have known it was Hashem. I guess Abraham didn’t have the written Word, but he had more of what I have now. Maybe that’s what you’re implying about Isaac’s experience–that he didn’t have the relationship with God to see what Abraham saw in this God that asked his dad to sacrifice him.
That’s pretty convicting in my own relationship with Hashem.