The Sacrific

The Sacrifice of Isaac by Domenichino

Genesis 21:1-7 & 22:1-24

Remember that baby that God promised to Abraham and Sarah?  Well, it’s true.  They had a baby and called him Isaac!  Don’t worry (because I know you will) he got circumcised when he was eight days old. 

God didn’t promise any other babies.  This was pretty much and “one and done” situation for Abraham and Sarah.  But…a few years down the road, God says to Abraham, “Hey, take your son.  You know, your ONLY son; the one that you love so much.  I want you to take him up to the mountains and slay him as a burnt offering to me!”

Without batting an eye, Abraham says, “ok” then packs up his bags, donkeys, and Isaac.  As they get closer, Isaac starts to notice something is off.  He’s all, “Hey Dad, I see the firewood, but uhhh…where’s the sacrificial lamb?”  Abraham, of course, brushes this off and is like, “Psh.  Don’t worry about that.  God will provide the lamb.”

They go up the mountain, prepare the alter, and without enlightening us as to Isaac’s feelings on the matter, he’s bound and placed on the alter.  Just as Abraham is about to kill his ONLY SON with a knife, an Angel of the Lord says, “OMG stop!  Ok.  You’re afraid of God.  Bluff called; you win.  Good job.  Here’s a ram for you.”

Abraham unties Isaac and they sacrifice the ram.  I truly don’t have anything funny to say about this because…that the truest show of faith I’ve ever read.  However, I still want a run down of how the 100 year old Abraham convinced and/or overpowered Isaac to get him up on that alter!  Someone’s got some splainin’ to do!