We went to see ‘My Only Son’ in the theater yesterday. I had never thought about the emotion that must have gone into this short narrative we read in Genesis 22:1-19.
At this point in Abraham’s life he had already been through a lot! Literally, with his nephew Lot! Imagine what he had been through trying to explain to people where he lived, and his wife Sarah, that they had to pick up everything and move because God told them too. Since Sarah did not have the same relationship with God, it must have been hard for her to abandon everything she knew and was comfortable with, and follow to an unknown area with her husband. She was beginning to be concerned her with his declarations. She did not understand them.
Moving forward, God promises Abraham that he will be a great nation and have descendants as the stars in the sky. How? Sarah is barren an there is no other way-or is there?
Sarah, in her desperation for a child, convinces Abraham that taking her handmaiden Hagar to be a ‘wife’ would be a good solution. She convinces Abraham by telling him God said the heir would come through him-not her! Still, she was crushed as she gives him permission to be unfaithful to her. And, she actually blames him later for obeying her suggestion. Typical human nature!
We know what happens, Hagar becomes pregnant and she uses her pregnancy to mock Sarah. A son is born to Hagar, and finally Sarah could stand the mocking no longer and Hagar is sent away with her son.
Sarah miraculously becomes pregnant when Abraham is very old! They are ecstatic with the news, and are thankful to be able to see the beginning of the promise coming to pass when Sarah has a son.
Years later, once again Abraham hears directly from God. God gives Abraham a directive to sacrifice his son Isaac at Moriah! WHAT? How can this be possible? Kill my son? My Only son (with Sarah)! Abraham was distraught, but obedient!
Of course, he did not tell anyone the total conversation he had with God. He did tell Sarah that he and Isaac had to go the 3 day journey to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice to the Lord. Of course, Sarah did not understand why they had to go there, why not sacrifice here? It is a dangerous journey with our teen son. Abraham assures her that he will be careful and he takes 2 men with him on the journey.
The movie portrays the emotional upheaval in each of the participants as they process these events on the trip. Of course, Sarah is distraught. She does not want to allow her miracle child to go! Father Abraham is an emotional wreck as he is the only one who knows the real purpose for the 3 day trip. Isaac is a sweet and obedient teenager. The only calm one in the group, just happy to be going on an adventure with his dad. The other 2 men are slaves. Neither had any say in the matter and just barely tolerated each other.
After a couple of altercations they arrive at the spot God told Abraham to make the sacrifice of Isaac to Him. Of course, Isaac sees there is something missing and asks his dad-where is the sacrifice? In scripture it says that Abraham says , “The Lord Himself will provide the sacrifice”. In the movie a narrative transpires between father and son that is very believable. Abraham tells Isaac that he, Isaac is what the Lord told Abraham to have for the sacrifice. Isaac’s face is priceless as it goes from hurt, to incredulous, to acceptance. He puts his hand out in submission to Abraham. Abraham ties them together and lays him on the wood ready for the fire. He stands over his son and draws his knife as we hear an animal bleating in the background. As Abraham raises his knife and my eyes are brimming with tears, God calls to Abraham. Relief covers Abraham’s face as he feels a reprieve may be coming from what he was going to do.
God speaks to Abraham, telling him he passed a test of his faithfulness to God. “Do not sacrifice Isaac. Out of your offspring will come descendants as the stars in the Heavens.
Looking back at that from our vantage point we can see that that is exactly what happened. Isaac became the father of 12 sons (and daughters) who became the 12 tribes of Israel. From one of those tribes came King David, and from one of David’s descendants came…Jesus.
Many years, about 2,000, after the sacrifice of Isaac was stopped by God, God allowed the sacrifice of His only Son to be sacrificed on a nearby mountain so that we could be saved from our sins and enter into Heaven, IF we pass the test and accept that perfect sacrifice as our Lord, Savior, and redemption for our sin.
Once again an illustration of what the Old Testament conceals, the New Testament REVEALS!
I highly recommend this movie!
Genesis 22:2
Then God said, “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.”
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