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Genesis 22

World English Bible

WEB

1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” 3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. 9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11Yahweh’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.” 15Yahweh’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, 16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says Yahweh, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. 18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba. 20After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Genesis Chapter 22 presents one of the most profound tests of faith in the Bible, where God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, #Isaac. This chapter begins with God testing Abraham, saying, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah" (Genesis 22:2). Abraham's immediate obedience is remarkable; he prepares for the journey without hesitation, demonstrating his unwavering faith in God's promises. As they ascend the mountain, Isaac innocently questions his father about the lamb for the burnt offering, to which Abraham responds, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8). This foreshadows the ultimate provision of God through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Upon reaching the designated place, Abraham builds an altar and binds Isaac, ready to carry out the command. Just as he is about to sacrifice his son, an angel of the Lord calls out to him, stopping him and affirming that Abraham has proven his fear of God by not withholding his son (Genesis 22:11-12). In a powerful moment of divine intervention, God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute for Isaac, illustrating the theme of substitutionary atonement. The chapter concludes with God reaffirming His covenant with Abraham, promising blessings and numerous descendants, as a reward for his faithfulness. This chapter not only highlights Abraham's faith but also serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative of redemption, pointing to God's ultimate sacrifice in Jesus Christ.

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 24:60v17Genesis 24:60 contains a blessing for Rebekah to become the mother of thousands of ten thousands, echoing the promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:17 about his descendants being as numerous as the stars.
  2. Judges 6:24v14In Judges 6:24, Gideon builds an altar and names it 'The Lord is Peace,' echoing Genesis 22:14 where Abraham names the place 'The Lord Will Provide.' Both names reflect a revelation of God's character in response to divine intervention.
  3. Judges 11:34-35v2Judges 11:34-35 describes Jephthah's grief upon seeing his daughter, reminiscent of Abraham's test with Isaac in Genesis 22:2, where he is asked to sacrifice his son. Both passages explore themes of sacrifice and obedience.
  4. 1 Kings 4:20v171 Kings 4:20 describes the multitude of Israel as numerous as the sand by the sea, echoing God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:17 about his descendants being as numerous as the stars and sand.
  5. 2 Chronicles 3:1v22 Chronicles 3:1 mentions Mount Moriah as the location where Solomon began to build the house of the Lord. Genesis 22:2 identifies Mount Moriah as the place where Abraham was to offer Isaac, highlighting its significance as a place of sacrifice and worship.
  6. John 19:17v6John 19:17 describes Jesus carrying His cross, paralleling Isaac carrying the wood for his own sacrifice in Genesis 22:6, highlighting the theme of sacrificial obedience.
  7. Acts 3:25v18Acts 3:25 refers to the promise made to Abraham that through his offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed, directly connecting to Genesis 22:18, which contains this promise, highlighting the fulfillment in Jesus.
  8. Galatians 3:16v18Galatians 3:16 points to Genesis 22:18, emphasizing that the promises were made to Abraham and his 'seed,' which Paul interprets as referring to Christ.
  9. Hebrews 6:13-14v16Hebrews 6:13-14 references God's promise to Abraham, which is originally found in Genesis 22:16-17, where God swears by Himself to bless and multiply Abraham's descendants.
  10. Hebrews 11:17v1Hebrews 11:17 recounts Abraham's faith when tested to offer Isaac, which is the narrative in Genesis 22:1-14 where God provides a ram as a substitute.
  11. Revelation 7:9v17Revelation 7:9 depicts a great multitude from every nation, fulfilling the promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:17-18 that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and a blessing to all nations.

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