Genesis 22:11-12

11          But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

12          He said, “Do not reach out your hand against the boy, and do not do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

God’s Reaction

Abraham was preparing to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice because of a command given by God. This isn’t his other son, Issachar, that he had with Hagar, Sarah’s servant. This is the son that Abraham and Sarah had when they were both approximately 100 years of age. They have been waiting for years for God to fulfill the promise of many descendants, just to have Abraham be told to sacrifice Isaac to Him. Abraham doesn’t question God. Abraham doesn’t rebel and refuse God’s command. Abraham follows it. Abraham prepares the sacrifice altar, let’s Isaac know that he will be the sacrifice, and almost strikes when this angel kicks in and stops Abraham.

For me, there’s two things that have me curious: what did the angel mean by “reaching out your hand” and what it means to “not withheld your son.” These are the things that we’re going to talk about today.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What did you take away from the story of Abraham and Isaac?

God’s Intervention

God intervened before anything happened. God wanted to showcase the importance of obedience over any sacrifices. This reflects God’s power and how He has control over life and death. It also showcases Abraham’s faith, where God showcases the heart rather than the actual act of sacrifice. God shows his mercy to Abraham by providing a substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac.

This story can be read in a unique manner. It begs the question: “Why would God command Abraham to sacrifice a son He promised to Abraham?” I mentioned how this story was about an act of faith, right? Abraham had waited many decades for Isaac to be born, and in a moment, God commands him to sacrifice Isaac. In Abraham’s culture, child sacrifice was a heartbreaking norm. Is God cruel? Different theologians have viewed this story in a couple different ways.

Some theologians believe that this reflects how Abraham perceived God based on his upbringing, and how God can pull him out of the traditional societal and religious normals – avoiding child sacrifice. Others talk about how God rejects human sacrifices. God is the one who ultimately provides the sacrifice, which we see fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Someone like J. Richard Middleton (no relationship as far as I know) argues that it’s odd that Abraham didn’t question God here like he did with Sodom. Middleton argues that it opens the door for us to question certain acts and commands that appear to violate who God truly is.

God’s promise to Abraham back in Genesis 12 described how Isaac would bring multiple descendants and generations. Abraham is ecstatic over what Isaac means for his lineage and fulfillment of promises from God, but now Abraham must remember that God has the ultimate control. God doesn’t cause harm to Isaac, nor forces Abraham to cause harm to Isaac. Now, we don’t truly know what trauma Isaac walks away from here with. Not many, if any of us reading, have been put in a situation where we were attempted to be sacrificed by our parents. (If you were – I am so sorry your parents, put you in that situation which you did not deserve to be in.) God spared Isaac, which Isaac saw through the ram that was provided. The promise rests securely in God’s hand which refuses violence. Jesus even described to the rich young ruler: “To truly follow me, sell all your possessions.” (paraphrase of Matthew 19:21). An extreme call to follow God’s vision, not through loss, but through love.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: When have you had, or felt you had, to sacrifice something in order to fulfill God’s calling.

God Did Not Withhold

Isaac is known as Abraham’s only son. Although we know Abraham had Ishmael, Isaac would be the sole child of promise that God’s promise would come to life. Abraham did not withhold Isaac from God, must like God did not withhold Jesus from us.

The Hebrew word the author uses here is chasak (khaw-sak’). It describes a conscious restraint. In the context of this story, the author shows Abraham’s refusal to chasak Isaac as a preview for God’s refusal to chasak Jesus. Abraham sets the tone with all relationships from God that nothing should be withheld from God. God withholds nothing necessary for redemption while graciously holding back wrath for believers.

God gave and gifts everything that we could ever ask for in life. In response, we’re invited to hold nothing back. Everything we do, say, and participate in – all should be brought to the glory and honor of God. It’s the equitability of what a relationship with God describes. God did not withhold Jesus from the world but sent Jesus as a lowly servant so that we can have a right standing relationship with our heavenly Creator. Jesus teaches us principles about love, generosity, compassion, mercy, care, justice, and faith so that we can go out and reflect that to all we meet. We give to others a reflection of what God gives to us, while also recognizing that God is powerful and divine. God wants our hearts at the end of it all – a focus on why we say and do what we do and wants to reside there to make sure the positive fruit flows out from us. We’re invited to bring our hurts, habits, and hangups – so that God can shape us to live, speak, and think as He created us.

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: What are you withholding from God? What would it be like to give it all to Him?

This series on theophanies will be concluding here for now. In the coming weeks, I’ll be moving into a shorter reflection series in Paul’s letters before returning to more in-depth studies later in the year.