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Analysing Abraham’s Sacrifice in Genesis 22… A. M. Jacob (5
The story of Abraham’s sacrifice is son Isaac. When he had cut enough
recounted in Genesis, the first book of wood for the burnt offering, he set out
the Old Testament or the Torah (Ibid). for the place God had told him about.
Genesis 22: 1-19 narrates God On the third day, Abraham looked up
commanding Abraham to sacrifice his and saw the place in the distance. He
‘only son,’ Isaac, whom he loves, at said to his servants, “Stay here with the
Mount Moriah. Abraham, accompanied donkey while I and the boy go over
by his son and servants, sets out for there. We will worship and then we
Moriah. On the journey, Isaac enquires will come back to you.”
about the sacrifice, but Abraham reassures Abraham took the wood for the burnt
him that God will provide. Eventually, offering and placed it on his son Isaac,
Abraham builds an altar, binds his son, and he carried the fire and the knife. As
and prepares to sacrifice him. However, the two of them went on together, Isaac
just before the sacrifice, Abraham is spoke up and said to his father Abraham,
informed that his sacrifice has been “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham
accepted and is commanded to restrain replied. “The fire and wood are here,”
himself from sacrificing his son but Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the
instead sacrifice a ram (Genesis 22: 13). burnt offering?” Abraham answered,
Thus, according to the Holy Bible, “God himself will provide the lamb for
one can safely assume that the son who the burnt offering, my son.”
was taken up for sacrifice by Abraham And the two of them went on
is Isaac because the Holy Bible clearly together. When they reached the place
names the son as Isaac. However, a God had told him about, Abraham built
deeper analysis of the text has a an altar there and arranged the wood on
different story to tell. it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him
The Identity of Abraham’s ‘Only Son’ on the altar, on top of the wood. Then
Genesis 22:1-19 he reached out his hand and took the
Some time later God tested Abraham. He knife to slay his son. But the angel of
said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he the LORD called out to him from
replied. Then God said, “Take your son, heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I
your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on
go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything
there as a burnt offering on one of the to him. Now I know that you fear God
mountains I will tell you about.” because you have not withheld from me
Early the next morning Abraham got your son, your only son.”
up and saddled his donkey. He took Abraham looked up and there in a
with him two of his servants and his thicket, he saw a ram e caught by its
