Genesis 22

Some time later: Abraham had sent Ishmael away and settled in the land. Then God tested Abraham’s faith by telling him to give up Isaac. This challenged Abraham's logic and understanding of God.

Would he still obey when God seemed to oppose him and the covenant? Would he hold onto the boy or surrender him to God (see Exodus 13:11–13)? Did he believe that God would still keep his promise and bless the world through Abraham’s descendants?

The biggest test in Abraham's life came after he finally had the promised child, Isaac, after waiting a long time. He had grown to love Isaac and enjoyed his company for many years.

• Abraham's earlier obedience to God's calling (12:1–3) brought him great blessings. Now, he had a chance to show even greater obedience.

• Take your son ... Isaac, whom you love: God described Isaac in detail to remind Abraham that Isaac was his beloved son, reinforcing the cost of the sacrifice.

• The name Moriah is explained by the Chronicler (2 Chronicles 3:1) as the future site of the temple mount in Jerusalem.

• go: God worded the command this way to help Abraham remember his earlier call and obey again (12:1–3).

Abraham's immediate and unquestioning obedience is as remarkable as the test itself.

The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you: Abraham's amazing statement makes us wonder what he was thinking. Abraham knew that God had planned the future of the covenant around Isaac and that God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac. He could not reconcile these things in his mind; he could only do what God commanded him to do, and leave the future to God (compare Hebrews 11:17–19).

When Isaac asked, Abraham showed his faith in the Lord by saying, "God Himself will provide." But he did not know how. This idea is central to the entire story.

God’s intervention was dramatic and instructive, confirming that he never intended for Isaac to be sacrificed. God later made it clear that child sacrifice was an abomination to him (see Leviticus 18:21; 20:1–5; Deuteronomy 18:10; 2 Kings 16:2–3; Isaiah 57:5; Jeremiah 32:35). God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his own will and surrender it to God, and when he did, God intervened.

This story sets an example for all who worship through sacrifice. Like Abraham, true worshipers understand that everything belongs to God. They acknowledge that all things come from God and are his. A true worshiper obediently gives God what he asks for. They trust that God will provide all needs. Through this trust, they experience that God always provides.

The angel of the Lord stopped Abraham just as he was ready to plunge the knife into his son.

• Now God knew that Abraham would hold nothing back from him, that he did truly fear God. To fear the Lord means to reverence him as sovereign, trust him implicitly, and obey him without protest. The sacrifice that pleases God is a heart broken of self-will, surrendered to God (Psalms 40:6–8; 51:17).

• you have not withheld: Compare Romans 8:32, which uses the same verb (“spare”) as the Greek Old Testament here. If God gave us his most precious possession, he will surely provide everything we need.

God provided a ram caught by its horns in a bush for the sacrifice. God graciously allowed Abraham to substitute an animal sacrifice instead of Isaac. Later, all of Israel would offer animals to the Lord, understanding that God's grace allowed this substitution (Exodus 29:10; Leviticus 4:15; 16:20–22).

In the New Testament, God substituted his only son for all humanity. This perfect sacrifice was made once and for all people (Isaiah 53:6, 10; John 1:29; 10:1–14; Hebrews 7:27; 1 Peter 3:18).

• As in many stories about the patriarchs (early fathers of Israel), the key meaning is preserved through naming. Yahweh-Yireh means "the Lord will provide" (see 22:8). The use of the divine name Yahweh (the personal name of God) shows that the patriarchs knew this name (compare Exodus 6:2–3), even if they did not yet understand its full meaning (see study note on Exodus 6:2–3).

• to this day: Later Israelites saw this story as a lesson about their worship in Jerusalem. Abraham's sacrifice happened on the mountain of the Lord, which later became the site of the temple in Jerusalem (see study note on 22:2). Three times a year, the people of Israel brought their best offerings to God for sacrifice. They trusted he would continue to provide for them.

After the event, God again confirmed his covenant with Abraham (compare 15:5, 18–21; 17:3–8). His descendants would be numerous:

• like the stars in the sky (compare 26:4),

• like the sand on the seashore (compare 32:12), and

• like the dust of the earth (compare 13:16; 28:14).

By Myself: There is no higher name by which God can swear (Hebrews 6:13–17).

Joshua and Old Testament Israel partially fulfilled the promise that Abraham’s descendants would conquer the cities (literally take possession of the gates) of God's enemies. The church will completely fulfill this promise (compare Matthew 16:18 and the study note there).

Abraham proved his faith. Afterward, he needed to pass the covenant blessings to Isaac. He bought a burial plot (chapter 23), found a wife for Isaac (chapter 24), and distributed his property (25:1–11).

Milcah was the wife of Nahor. She was also his niece (see 11:29).

A report came from the east that Abraham’s brother Nahor (see 11:27–29) was doing well. The people in the next part of the story are introduced here.

Uz may have been an ancestor of Job (Job 1:1).

Bethuel was the youngest of Nahor’s eight sons with Milcah. He was the father of Rebekah, who would become Isaac’s wife (see 24:15, 67). Rebekah would succeed Sarah as the clan's female leader (23:1–2).