Why did God tell Abraham to hold a knife to his son’s throat? Is this the God of love?

Question

Olivia · Answer

That is the God of testing people under certain circumstances in a way that is appropriate for that setting and culture. In our time, sacrificing animals (or people) isn’t common, but in that day, it was. It was a serious lesson for Abraham. God already knew what was and wasn’t going to happen, but Abraham didn’t, and learned the lessons he needed to learn by being put through that test. I went through many tests in my life, and didn’t pass all of them. I never had to hold a knife at anyone’s throat, but I had my own lessons to learn in similar situations. Issac also learned important lessons about life as well. As to the idea that God is a God of love, as I’ve said in other answers where God does something that doesn’t express love, God is capable of more than ONE emotion. We are created in His image, and we are capable of more than ONE emotion. Being a God of love does not eliminate His other emotions and does not mean He is just so “nice” He lets people do whatever they want without consequences, and it doesn’t mean in giving humans freedom of choice He steps in and “rescues” them every five minutes when they inevitably do something wrong. Humans had to learn hard lessons of cause and effect, and take responsibility for their own mistakes. God’s love didn’t change.

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Liliana · Answer

Bcoz God was testing him to c if Abraham loves his only child more than God. But also remeb tat God promised Abraham that through Isaac his descendents would increase . And Abraham knew God will fullfill His promise .which means same God who created can resurrect too. Above al when Isaac asks for the sacrificial animal Abraham says that God wil provide which indicates Abraham belived his son would not die holding onto GOD’S promise. No wonder abraham is called father of faith ..
I know it’s not a story that portraits God’s love but also remeb that He dint spare His own son for us (though v r nt worthy)

Josephine · Answer

This is the God of love. God gave Abraham the commandment to sacrifice his son on an alter, then stopped him when he saw Abraham was willing to go that far to obey God’s commandments. He did it because Abraham had to learn more about Abraham. Each of us must go thru a similar test where God will test our allegiance to him. He will only select the most devoted to return home to him after this life.

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Elliana97 · Answer

Did God have Abraham kill his son? No. It was to show Abraham the faith he had. I think sometimes we have doubts about our faith. Abraham was given a lot of responsibility, so I believe God was training him.

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Katherine97 · Answer

Hi ! Thank you for posting this essential question. Abraham is called the father of the faithful for good reason. There were several tests of Abraham’ s faith in his latter days each one gradually increasing in intensity until he was faced with the ultimate test , the sacrifice of his son Isaac. The First test was when God asked Abraham to leave / separate from the land of his nativity UR of the Chaldees and travel to a land that God would show him. He had no idea where he was heading or why , still he obeyed. The Second test was when he had to separate himself from Lot his nephew as their possessions grew so quickly that the land in which they dwelt could no longer support their combined flocks and herds. So Abraham the elder , in humility offered Lot first choice and so he took the best part of that land. Abraham and his family then moved on seeking greener pastures. The Third test was when Abraham had to separate himself from his first born son Ishmael because of an internal dispute between Sarah and Hagar. Although it was a painful separation again Abraham obeyed God.
Now after some time had passed Abraham was presented his 4th and Final test or Final exam. When God asked Abraham to offer up as a sacrifice his son , his only son Isaac , Abraham was confronted with a dilemma ! God had previously said that that HIS blessings to Abraham including his posterity would come through Isaac. But Isaac was not married and had no children. Fortunately , Abraham had a (3 days ) journey before he would arrive at Mt. Moriah. Surely God’s unusual request to sacrifice his son Issac was a mistake. With Isaac dead how could all those promises God had made possibly be fulfilled ? We are not told when or where but by the time they both arrived at Mt. Moriah Abraham had fully committed himself to obeying God and following through on sacrificing his son ! This story of Abraham and Isaac is almost an exact replica of Jesus at Calvary !
Abraham cut the wood to be used. God had wood in mind for HIS SON.
Abraham placed the wood on Isaac to carry. Jesus carried HIS own cross
Abraham didn’t bring a lamb to offer. Neither did Jesus HE was the Lamb
Isaac did not protest being bound. Jesus did not protest being nailed to
All this took place on the 3rd day for Isaac and for Jesus also
Isaac was untied and stood up from the altar Jesus was set loose from death and was Raised up on the 3rd day !
Abraham called the place Jehovah-Jireh or in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen !
Abraham after the earlier tests of preparation Abraham was fully satisfied that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead ! Confirmed by HEBREWS 11: 17- 19 !!!
Here is what Jesus had to say about this incident JOHN 8: 56 ! Your father Abraham rejoiced to see MY DAY ( HIS sacrifice ) he saw it , and was glad.
Abraham had fully demonstrated his love for God in his willingness to sacrifice his Only Son Isaac and in the Future at Calvary God would demonstrate HIS own sacrificial LOVE for the WORLD in the offering of HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON at the Cross !
It is my prayer that all these examples especially no. 10 ! will show / prove that God is a God of Love !!!

Savannah · Answer

We’re talking about the same God who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” right?
The same God who endured infinite agony and excruciating pain so that we all may be resurrected and have a hope of forgiveness for our misdeeds.
This is the same God who told Abraham—a person who may well have had his father hold the knife at his own throat when he was younger—to take his only son and make an offering of him in similitude of God’s own offering. Abraham clearly understood the principle of vicarious sacrifice when he told Isaac, “God will provide the sacrifice,” and indeed, we see that God did provide a scapegoat.
I can see the whole thing as a valuable lesson not only to Abraham, but also to his son Isaac, who would pass this gospel on to his children.
But at no point did Abraham really think that God was going to have him actually kill his son. Isaac, on the other hand, had to show his faithfulness and courage and willingness to do all that God commands—the same as any disciple today.

Olivia136 · Answer

Maybe it is a parable. But I minored in Philosophy in college and had to read Kierkegaard’s “Fear and Trembling”. In it, Kierkegaard believes that Abraham’s faith in God was really the faith that God wouldn’t make him kill Isaac. If Abraham had lacked faith, he would have refused God’s instructions. But he had faith—faith that God would not require the death of his son.

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Ariana · Answer

It is obvious you have never read the account. You listen to what others say. Abraham had complete faith in Jehovah God. Jehovah had already promised that Abraham’s seed would populate a great people. Abraham knew that Jehovah had the ability to resurrect Isaac. Jehovah picked Abraham because he had such faith in him and Jehovah counted Abraham as his friend, I feel pretty certain that no other human could be so faithful. Abraham’s progeny led to Jesus. What a amazing lineage Abraham was blessed with.

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Genesis · Answer

No. God does not do that. Unfortunately people idolize the books and forget God it seems.

Melody · Answer

Trump did the same thing with the Central Park five. Maybe he could provide some insight into god’s mindset. They’re a lot alike which probably explains why Trump got the vast majority of the evangelical vote.

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sheca · Answer

'When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”  So, Abraham never held a knife to his son's throat.  This was God's test of faith for Abraham.  Is this the God of love?  The Nature of God

Kylie · Answer

On the surface this would appear to be the case. However God does NOT try or tempt anyone (See James 1:13–14). Then why did such an event occur??
We might look to the Book of Job for an answer. Satan stated that the only reason Job was faithful to God was that God PROTECTED him and his property. SATAN was permitted to test Job all the way up to making him deathly sick, Took everything from Job. Job however maintained his integrity and proved Satan wrong and a liar. He proved that a man could remain faithful to God under the most devastating pressure.
While the scriptures do not state this, it is very likely that a similar challenge was made by Satan regarding Abraham. Abraham like Job, proved that a man could be obedient to God even under the most trying of circumstances.
Abraham also knew that God had promised that a great nation would come from Issac, Abraham believed in the ability of God to resurrect any dead one, so he likely felt that even if he did sacrifice Issac, God would resurrect him.

Alaia · Answer

I used this incident in the OT to illustrate the multiple gods at play in our lives. Here is the second chapter of my book that explains the two forces at play and illustrates the subtle change from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many).
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. Genesis 17:4-6 (KJV)
The discovery of the clay Elam tablets in Iran, confirms that Abram lived in the 23rd/22nd century BC, over 1000 years before Moses.[i]Abram was a true spiritual pioneer, trying to find his way in a lawless world. Today, we take it for granted that murder, theft, rape and fraud are socially inacceptable and illegal, but Abram lived in a time that had no laws of this kind. In analyzing the text though, this fact will be advantageous.
We must realize that for the peoples of this time, the gods were very real, and there were many of them. Homer and the Greek poets tell us about their various personalities. The gods who were worshiped by the Egyptians were also many and they too are unique individuals. It is not my purpose here to do a comparative study of the gods across cultures, but rather to stick to our principles of logic, and attempt to uncover the gods who show up in the story of Abram. Since gods are immortal, we can assume that their character is also immortal and can use this tool to help distinguish the players in our story.
Abram speaks with multiple gods and angels during his life, some bringing rhetoric and other wisdom. At the beginning of his journey, wisdom tells him to go forth. He will be blessed, have a great name and father a nation, which are non-material gifts. During his life, the powers of rhetoric offer him material rewards and makes him a father of many nations. One of these tells him to kill his son Isaac, but an angel of the lord stops him from going through with it.
With all his encounters, we see a pattern that might be the source of the common idiom: “It went south” to mean that it went badly. The pattern that I see, is that when Abram follows the advice of one god, leading him into the south, and the same time he runs into troubles. But when he follows other advice, he heads north and his life improves. There is a symbolism in the bible available to us today suggesting that Abram was torn between doing what was right for God’s plan and what was best for him personally. The promise of greatness or material gain is what makes things go south for him. For example:
And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. (Genesis 12:9-10 KJV)
One other detail that has lost significance for us over time is the importance of a name and its meaning. Names were not given lightly, especially to key personalities. We have read often in the bible that children have been given names from angels of god before they were born. So, when a name like this is changed, we cannot trivialize it and we need to search for the reason for the change.
And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. Genesis 17:4-6 (KJV)
There is no indication in the bible where the name Abram came from and why the child was named so, but we do have an idea of what it means: Exalted Father . The addition of the sound [hei] changes the meaning to just Father or Father of Many. [ii]For some, this change may seem benign, but let’s look at it closely. “Exalted Father” is a name of honor for a spiritual leader in God’s plan with no built-in connotations or goals. Changing it to “Father of Many” puts pressure on Abram to procreate, and this is what happens. He seeks other women to fulfill the destiny of this new name. It somehow cheapens the miracle of him finally having Isaac in his and Sarai’s old age, as with the New Testament miracle birth of John the Baptist in the barren years of Elizabeth.
The change to Sarai’s name to Sar[hei] equally cheapens the name from “My Princess” to just “Princess”.[iii]This seemingly trivial action of god to change the names of two key players in our story illuminates the basis of the theory that this book pursues. The benevolent theory goes as such:
There is a benevolent force acting on this world with vision and purpose, based in goodness and wisdom, attempting to inspire people to choose a path to it. At the same time, the ruling power of this world is trying to circumvent any and all attempts by the benevolent force to maintain its power over mankind.
As a pioneer, working for this benevolent force, Abram did not have any written laws to go by, to help guide him on his Journey. He required direct communication to find his way on this narrow path, and this allowed imposters to step in and try to mislead Abram. I would suggest that the push to procreate, the offers for material greatness and rhetoric used to try to get him to kill Isaac all came from an imposter, another god opposed to the benevolent force. By Genesis 18 he becomes suspicious and I believe he starts to recognize the pagan gods when they visited him. Abram keeps Sarai away from these three visitors while he offers them the traditional dressed calf.
The power struggle between wisdom and rhetoric is evident in the bible. God tells Moses in no uncertain terms that he is the only god Moses should follow. This is an acknowledgement that others are trying to impersonate him. It wasn’t until the time of Moses that the rules of this benevolent God could be written down, but doesn’t it stand to reason, that the same unwritten laws existed at the time of Abram? So why would this god tell Abram to violate his own law? Or for that matter, the same question can be posed anywhere in the bible. It is rhetoric that leads man to kill in the name of their god, not wisdom. Wisdom is firmly based in law, so it is defeated when those pursuing the narrow benevolent path fall victim to rhetoric and violate the law.

References
[i]Hinz, Walther. “Wann hat Abraham gelebt.” Museion 2000, 3/1991, 15. Print
[ii] https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/15116/what-is-the-significance-of-changing-the-names-of-abram-to-abraham-and-sarai-to
[iii] http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/765186/jewish/The-Three-Faces-of-Sarah.htm

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Eden · Answer

Surgeons cut people up all day long yet follow the hippocratic oath and have the patient’s long term health in mind.
You can choose to present the information in the most inflammatory way in your question but I doubt that many will bite.
You have to remember that God created the world in order to populate it with immortal and therefore morally trustworthy people. As He goes about the process of developing true character in his children one expects that seemingly drastic measures are sometimes called upon to bring about the most powerful lessons, especially when success is a matter of life and death for all who put their trust in Him.
I think it is better not to puddle about trying to test the God of the Bible with amateur philosophy.

admin1997 · Answer

Genesis 22 (KJV)   8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.  9  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.  10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.  11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here  am  I.  12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only  son  from me.  13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind  him  a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.  GENESIS CHAPTER 22 KJV  Firstly, who are you to stand in judgement of God. I’m not being mean, I am simply asking, who has set you as the authority and judge of God Himself. It always strikes me as odd that a man would judge God, the Creator. It kind of reminds me of a child accusing a parent, that they owe them something, that they are obligated to buy them an expensive toy, or allow them to play video games all day. Such is the fallacy of a child.  God doesn’t need us. It us that needs Him. We are all sinners. We all sin in our thoughts and actions. We owe our very lives to Him. Does anyone really believe that organic life arose from rocks (inorganic matter) ? Does anyone really believe that nothing gave rise to something. Such an idea defies scientific logic. Look, God is the Creator of the universe and all life within it. He owns it. He makes the rules. He is absolute good and sets objective morality. We do not stand in judgement of Him. God stands in judgement of us. God must punish us because we are sinners. If He didn’t punish sin, then His laws would be meaningless. Think of who would obey traffic laws if no police enforced them. If nothing happened to anyone who committed theft, then what is stopping individuals from just taking things from an electronics or grocery store ?  Why was Abraham willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to Lord God ? Is it because God is barbaric, or a psychopath ? That would be the opinion of some atheists. The truth is in scripture, God was testing Abraham’s faith. Abraham wasn’t a poser, he was actually going to go through with it. God already knew that Abraham would be genuinely prepared to do it. But Abraham did not know, until he was about to sacrifice Isaac. God prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, by commanding Abraham to stop.  This account was not only a test, it serves as a prefigure or a picture of the future and final atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. Abraham symbolizes Father God, and Isaac symbolizes Jesus Christ. Father God sent Jesus, His only Son, to implement and complete the plan for man’s salvation. In this plan we see the glory of God. We see how generous He is, and how much He loves us, that He would punish His own Son, instead of us so that we as genuine believers in Christ, may enter into heaven.  Jesus saves.

Alaia · Answer

What sounded like cruel thing was a necessary evil. To demonstrate to mankind what God was about to do for all of humanity. God changed part of himself into a man and let you hold a knife to his throat and slit it. And I don’t hear you complaining one little bit.

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Kylie · Answer

No, Abraham’s duty to sacrifice Isaac shows the righteousness of God—all have sinned, and all are worthy of death. It is in the very next breath, in which God provides a ram for the sacrifice, that we see that the love of God is even more lavish and passionate than His righteousness.
This is a type (a picture) of the sacrifice of Christ: God’s righteous nature requires a blood sacrifice to cover sin, but the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant could only temporarily atone for the people’s sins.
In Christ, we find the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, the only One Whose death could ever permanently atone for all the sins of God’s Elect. God required a blood sacrifice of mankind, yet God provided Christ, the perfect sacrifice, to meet this requirement when no effort of man could satisfy God’s righteous decree.

Aaliyah · Answer

A2A You do not seem familiar to the fact that God tests some people at times. Try to not get upset about what happened to others, especially when they didn’t get upset about it…..
Hebrews 11:17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”[ c ] 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

Why did God tell Abraham to hold a knife to his son’s throat? Is this the God of love?

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