How are you ok with God telling Abraham to kill his son?

[tonychanyt]

Jeremiah 7:

31 They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.

It never occurred in God's mind that people should sacrifice their sons or daughters.

But then, God said to Abraham in Genesis 22:

2b "Take your son, your only son, whom you love--Isaac--and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."

God said that to test Abraham, and the incident provided a type for Jesus' sacrifice many centuries later.

After Abraham passed the test, God provided an alternative:

13 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.

Right from the beginning, God intended to provide a substitute sacrifice. It never occurred to God that he should receive Isaac as a human sacrifice.

There was one exceptional case. God did expect his one and only Son, Jesus, to be sacrificed for our sins. Romans 8:

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all.

If Abraham had disobeyed, he would have failed the test of faith. Why?

If Abraham had refused to obey God’s command, it would have indicated a lack of trust in God’s promises and character. God had promised that Isaac would be the heir through whom Abraham’s descendants would be named (Genesis 17:19). By refusing to obey, Abraham would have shown doubt in God’s ability to fulfill His promises, even in the face of an incomprehensible command. God demanded that kind of faith from Abraham.

If Abraham had disobeyed, would he have been punished?

I don't know. The fact was that he didn't disobey.

Would God be justified in commanding something He Himself declared immoral?

For me, whatever God does, by definition, is right. It is not my place to pass judgment on the Almighty God. Further, I am not judging anyone who does.

 

[RamiC]

It is okay with me because God did it 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3 16 NIV. It was a big ask of Abraham at the time though, it was matched with a promise fulfilled. When God asks big of us now, we can find the same thing, it is very worth checking that it is God asking though.

If I can link to my own post elsewhere in CF - “I felt like God was telling me: ‘Go back to North Korea,’” she says. “I felt a calling to share everything I’ve learned in my homeland.” - Joo Min - , which in that thread goes off CF to Joo Min;s whole story.

I had the honour of knowing someone who believed that Jesus was telling her to learn English, in a country where learning to speak English without permission from the government could get 30 years in prison. She went ahead, while her father almost lost his mind with worry, and her mother blamed her for the stress to her Dad. Thirteen years later there was a revolution, help from abroad came rolling into the town, and the one and only way any of the support could be accessed was this woman. From UN lawyers, to churches trying to set up mission posts, to food, clothes, and medical equipment, everybody was looking for a translator who spoke English to communicate with local people. Dangerous stuff, but God is good.

Please ensure that it is God, do not just accept a hunch to take a big risk because Abraham did.

 

[eleos1954]

Jeremiah 7:


It never occurred in God's mind that people should sacrifice their sons or daughters.

But then, God said to Abraham in Genesis 22:


God said that to test Abraham, and the incident provided a type for Jesus' sacrifice many centuries later.

After Abraham passed the test, God provided an alternative:


Right from the beginning, God intended to provide a substitute sacrifice. It never occurred to God that he should receive Isaac as a human sacrifice.

There was one exceptional case. God did expect his one and only Son, Jesus, to be sacrificed for our sins. Romans 8:


If Abraham had disobeyed, he would have failed the test of faith. Why?

If Abraham had refused to obey God’s command, it would have indicated a lack of trust in God’s promises and character. God had promised that Isaac would be the heir through whom Abraham’s descendants would be named (Genesis 17:19). By refusing to obey, Abraham would have shown doubt in God’s ability to fulfill His promises, even in the face of an incomprehensible command. God demanded that kind of faith from Abraham.

If Abraham had disobeyed, would he have been punished?

I don't know. The fact was that he didn't disobey.

Would God be justified in commanding something He Himself declared immoral?

For me, whatever God does, by definition, is right. It is not my place to pass judgment on the Almighty God. Further, I am not judging anyone who does.

According to the Bible, the Lord does indeed test us, with verses like Deuteronomy 8:2 stating that God "tested you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not," signifying that trials and challenges are a way for God to assess our faith and obedience; this is often seen as a process to refine our character and strengthen our relationship with Him.