Read Genesis 22.1-19
Finally, Abram and Sarai’s long-awaited son, Isaac, is born! (And if you’re confused as you read the Bible, we’ve skipped over the bit where they had a name change and are now Abraham and Sarah.)
One day Abraham gets up though and his life is plunged into darkness. And this time not by his own hand but by that of the Almighty. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his only son. As readers, we’re already in on what’s happening – we read at the start of the chapter that this is a test – but of course Abraham has no idea.
Its hard to imagine the gnawing feeling there must have been in the pit of Abraham’s stomach as he got up the next day and prepared his donkey, his servants and his son for a trip. A three day trip. If you have to face something awful, let it at least not be preceded by days of dread…
On the third day Abraham leaves his servants behind, piles the wood for the sacrifice onto his precious son’s back, takes his knife and sets off. It’s at this moment that Isaac asks the question which must have broken his father’s heart:
‘Where’s the lamb for the sacrifice?’
God had instituted a practice of burnt offerings for the people to atone for their wrongdoings., and so Isaac was very familiar with the ritual. A lamb (if you could afford it), a perfect lamb with no spots or blemishes which takes your place and dies the death you should face for falling short. It’s killed, its blood is spilled, and it lays atop the altar. God’s justice is so absolute that nothing less than death will do. But where is the lamb?
Abraham answers: ‘God will provide the lamb, my son’. Whether he has incredible faith to believe this, or simply cannot bear to articulate that he will soon be raising the knife to his own son, is not recorded.
The time has come. The altar has been built. Isaac has been tied up and placed on top. Abraham raises his knife to inflict the deadly blow. The reader hides behind a cushion, not wanting to bear what is coming next.
But the knife does not fall. From nowhere comes the voice of the angel of the Lord. Abraham should not harm his son. It has all been a test.
What kind of god delights in child sacrifice? Is the God of the Bible cruel? Does he enjoy playing games with his people?
We can’t know if these questions went through Abraham’s mind, but I’m sure they occur to many of us today. We cannot imagine a sufficient motivation for a father to sacrifice his own son. Not unless such an act would benefit millions of others perhaps? But surely not. Who would give up their own flesh and blood for millions of nameless, faceless others? It’s unimaginable.
Hold that thought. For now, let’s return to Abraham and Isaac. The moment after the angel cries out and Abraham lowers his knife, his attention is caught by something else. A ram, caught in the bushes nearby. An animal for the sacrifice. The ram takes Isaac’s place and Abraham names the place ‘The Lord will provide.’ God promises blessing to Abraham for passing the test of faith.
But that doesn’t answer our question – where’s the lamb? They needed a lamb for the sacrifice and God provided a ram. We’re still one lamb short here.
And the answer lies beyond the Christmas story and into Easter. There will be a lamb and we’ll understand why God put Abraham to what seemed a grotesque and pointless test. But for now, we’ll need to wait and continue in our journey…
Reflect
Have there been times you feel you’ve been put to the test? What feelings have they provoked towards God?
If you are involved in the care of children, are there times you have had to do things for their good that they didn’t understand? How did that make you feel?
How do you feel about being in the middle of the story, with things unresolved? Are there elements of your story which you long for a resolution to?
Susie lives in NE Fife and works in ministry. She loves being with friends, feeding people and half finished creative projects.
