Subscription Lists

There are all sorts of tricky, morally questionable passages in the Bible. Perhaps none more so than Abraham’s willingness to kill his own son because he heard a voice in his head. Let’s read the passage:

…God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:1-14)

The key question

To sum this up in one sentence: God commanded Abraham to do something difficult and hard to understand, and Abraham obeyed. Can we possibly pick any holes in Abraham’s logic? I find it hard to. God spoke, Abraham obeyed. He’s a good model of obedience. BUT…Abraham was still willing to obey, even though he thought God told him to sacrifice his own son!

What was Abraham thinking?

Anyone today trying to tell you that God had instructed them to kill their own child would probably end up locked away, and for good reason. Why is Abraham different? Well, I think he knew the character of God. While they’re on the way up the mountain Isaac asks Abraham where the lamb for the offering was, and Abraham’s response was very specific: ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering.’ Was Abraham lying? I don’t think so. Abraham knew what God was like, and he knew that God would provide a lamb. Abraham did what he heard God saying within the boundaries set by his knowledge of God. Did he lift his hand as if to kill his son? Yes, he did. He obeyed God to the letter, but I think he always knew God would provide. So, if God instructs you to do something you should obey him almost foolishly, in the knowledge that he is a good, loving God.

How do we discern God’s will?

There are five easy ways we can tell that God is speaking to us. Firstly, we have the Bible. Scripture is the yardstick by which we measure everything else. Secondly we have other Christians. Particularly more mature Christians, and those in leadership or those who know the Bible, are able to speak into our lives in profound ways. Don’t underestimate the power of your church family. Thirdly we can listen to the Holy Spirit. He speaks, sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly, and we should endeavour to be obedient to everything that he tells us. Finally, let's not forget common sense. God’s given us a brain, and sometimes things are clearly either wise or foolish.

So for example, let’s say I’m at work and get into a conversation with a pretty receptionist. She asks me out for a drink and my Christian friend encourages me to go with her. Should I do it? No! The Bible tells me that adultery is a sin so I should rebuke my Christian friend!

Do you find it hard to discern God's will? Let's get stuck into Scripture, get stuck into relationships, and actively listen to the Holy Spirit.

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Washed by the Water of the Word