Ask Your Preacher - Archives
“Child Sacrifice”
Categories: OLD TESTAMENTIn Genesis 22, Abraham goes to sacrifice Isaac. The "do not kill" commandment was not established until later, but there must have been a moral law in effect during Abraham's time. How could Abraham think it was okay to sacrifice his son, Isaac? How could God ask Abraham to, and by asking Abraham to, violate God's own moral law? How was any of it okay? Why should we esteem Abraham as someone who did what was right? I have struggled with this issue for quite some time. Thank you!Sincerely,
Why Do That?
Dear Why Do That,
Abraham is held in honor because he did what God commanded even when it went against every desire of his heart and character. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). The most basic example of faith is to hear what God says and do it without wavering. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son is the epitome of faith. That is why the Scriptures call Abraham the “father of the faithful” (Rom 4:16).
When Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed, he trusted God completely. God had promised Abraham that Isaac would be his legacy (Gen 17:19). So when God told Abraham to kill Isaac… Abraham would have been very confused. Rom 4:17-18 says that Abraham hoped and believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham trusted God to save his son’s life… he had total faith in God. That is why Abraham is such a spectacular example of faith.
Abraham trusted that God would not command him to do anything that was sinful. God knew that Abraham would never actually need to kill his son (God provided a alternative sacrifice at the last moment – Gen 22:11-13)… Abraham only knew that God wouldn’t lead him astray.
