Introduction To Genesis 22

In the binding of Isaac is a prophecy, a forecast, a refrigeration of the crucifixion. The binding of Isaac on the altar is where Israel finds itself. Today it stands for the renewal of Israel in its life as a state and in its life, though out the world, as a people. In the same story the believers find the Messiah. Isaac arose from the alter and lives, and Y’Shua arose from the cross and lived. Isaac was not so much the victim as he was a martyr – willingly giving up his life. If Abraham had killed his son, he would have become the forefather of a people – but not the Jewish people whom the Messiah was to come from.
V. 10 for the Jews all truth must spring from life, never from death. Life is not optional. The Jews view this story as a death and resurrection.
The Torah is not a Law for ideal people living in peaceful conditions, but rather a normative system that guides people in imperfect situations and through personal crises of the will and spirit.
The story of Isaac is a symbol of Jewish sufferings. The ram that Abraham sacrifices in place of Isaac represents the future martyrdoms of Israel. Unlike Isaac, the ram if not spared from death, because martyrdom is the story, the actual holocaust, and the act of martyrdom imitates Y’Shua, for the words of 1 Cor. 15:3 “Y’Shua died for our sins”.
Obedience is the key of Jewish concept, and faith is a key of Messiahian concept. Significantly this story does not contain the word faith, but obedience. But Abraham is the perfect knight of faith; demonstrate the highest level of faith. Obedience is the rule in the history of the Jewish people.
In Jewish thought, the ways of G-d may be obscure, hidden, and mysterious. Obedience to G-d’s commandments (Laws), even in matters that are not understood, is an expression of faith that the conduct of a G-d! A learning person will express the highest ethical values, and eventually in G-d’s own time, may know the reasons for each and every commandment, studying the Laws, on the other hand, mercy, faith, and compassion are love, concepts. The G-d of Abraham is a G-d of justice and mercy. (Mercy & Grace mean the same thing – forgiveness.)
V. 2 “One whom you love” – this is love-object, Abraham’s legal first born. The theme is this tension between love and duty. Abraham cannot bring himself to talk about it, cannot argue about it as he did with Sodom and Gomorrah. Love over duty or duty over love - - ?
Neither ancient folktale nor the Dead Sea Scrolls give a parallel to Genesis 22 but a pre-biblical story. Abraham was living in the time where child sacrifice had been practice before the Mosaic Law had banned it. A major crisis like famine, drought, disease, pestilence, or war brought on the human sacrifices. The sacrifice of a child was a common Canaanite practice, living in a pagan religion, Abraham simply obeyed to sacrifice his dearest possession, the first fruit of his legal wife – he was not asked to violate the Moral Law, as he understood it. See Micah 6:6-8.
119 biblical references to infant sacrifices are in the Scriptures. In reading this story – hear the conversation and emotions going on.
Ten Test of Abraham
1. A severe test was Abram had to oppose his father Terach and take a stand against the idolatrous culture of his day.
A test of making a stand.
2. Jewish traditions says Nimrod organized the construction of the Tower of Babel in Abram’s day. Abram refused to worship him; he was arrested and thrown into a fiery furnace for three days. Abram survived this ordeal, but when his brother Haran was likewise tested, he was burned alive. “Ur Kasdim” means ‘fire of kasdim.’
A test of having only one G-d.
3. Leaving his homeland and travel as a penitent to an unknown place in Gen. 12:1
It was a test of faith and surrendering for a 75-year-old man.
Taught Abraham to depend on G-d for material needs. Tested with famine in Gen. 12:10, after
G-d had promised him blessing and prosperity. This he failed.
5. Dealing with Sarai’s abductions by Pharaoh in Gen. 12:14-15. Then again taught Abraham to depend on G-d for personal safety, but he failed. Abram became a victim of government-sponsored injustice in Gen. 20:2.
This he failed because he told a half-truth and said she was his sister. A test of truth.
6. He had to rescue Lot from an invading army testing his loyalty. He pasted this, and proved his concern for his family. Gen. 14:12-16. Tested Abraham's ability to depend on G-d despite stress and division in his family. He passed this test and revealed the value of an unselfish spirit.
7. The dreadful Vision. After Abram was made party to the ‘Covenant between the Parts,’ he experienced the dreadful vision of his descendants being subjugated for 400 years in Gen. 15:1-21.
8. Taught him to wait for his baby, Isaac, to be born. Sadly, he didn't pass this and G-d punished him for it. Gen. 16. Abraham's willingness to remain strong against the tempting pleas of loved ones. He would always give into his wife whenever she wanted to disobey the L-rd. But, he failed.
9. Painful circumcision at the age of 99. At Abram’s advanced age, he was commanded to circumcise himself and his son Ishmael in Gen. 17:10. He failed because he did not do it when he was first told to.
10. The last test that I know of was the hardest. It was a test of obedience. He was tested in how well he could put G-d first. He had to go to Mt. Moriah and sacrifice his only son. He passed and the G-d rewarded both him and Isaac for their willingness to obey.
Abraham is without question one of the outstanding individuals of the Old Testament. God spoke to him personally, actually visited him in his home and even considered him a friend. And Abraham loved God. He obeyed him, served him, and was even willing to sacrifice his son to prove his faith.
A life spent learning to obey G-d is like a journey, with a stating point, a route and a destination. Your journey may not be as eventful as Abraham’s, but you can be sure there will be tests and trials, ups and downs, successes and failures along the way. We can all be encouraged by these examples from the life of the father of the faithful.