07 March 2011

Did God Require Child Sacrifices?

joestfrancois from YouTube asks, “Was Abraham going to kill his son for your [G]od or not?”

Reading the Bible in Context helps One Understand Truth

It is clear for anyone reading the Bible in context what Abraham believed would happen and what he was planning on doing. It is a rather short chapter of history so I suggest that you read it. You can read it from the New Living Translation (NLT) as it is easier to read than the King James Version. Both versions however, describe the same history.

In Genesis 22:1-24 we are told how Abraham’s faith (trust) in God was tested.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2022:1-24&version=NLT

After reading Genesis 22:1-24, a few verses clearly stand out as to what Abraham was thinking and what his plans were. It is also very clear what God was doing and had planned. I’ll call them out so to bring them to your attention too if by chance you did not catch them during your reading or that you chose to ignore them when you read them or if you chose to not even read it at all.

The first verse that stands clearly out to anyone reading the Bible in context is;

Genesis 22:5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Notice how Abraham told his servants that Isaac and he would be going to worship and that they both would be coming right back. We know Abraham was planning on returning together with his son Isaac because he said; “and then we will come right back.”

The second verse standing out clearly shows what Abraham was thinking would happen;

Genesis 22:8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” ‘Abraham answered [his son Isaac]. And they both walked on together.’

Abraham believed that God would provide a sheep for worshiping God. We know this because Abraham answered Isaac’s question with; “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,”

The third set of verses outstanding describes to us how much fear Abraham had of God and above all, how much Abraham trusted God;

Genesis 22:9 – 10 “When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.”

We know from the promise God had made to Abraham before Isaac was even conceived that Isaac would be the first born of a multitude of nations and kings from Abraham and Sarah. (See Genesis 17:1-27) Through the miraculous birth of Isaac, Abraham knew God kept His promises. Abraham also knew what happens to those who don’t fear God. We know that Abraham feared God because he picked up the knife to kill his son Isaac.

The verse which clearly puts everything into perspective is the fourth set of verses;

Genesis 22:12-13 '“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.'

Here we see that Abraham was right in his saying that he and Isaac would be returning after worshiping God. We also learn that Abraham was right when he said that God would provide the sheep as a burnt offering. Also, we learn that Abraham was right to trust God. Above all, we learn that God did not and does not require child sacrifices as He stopped Abraham from killing his son Isaac.

Answer

joestfrancois from YouTube to answer your question of, “Was Abraham going to kill his son for your [G]od or not?” all you need to do is to read in context the Bible;

Genesis 22:10 “And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.”

Thank you joestfrancious for your question; God bless you.

Mar 7, 2011 9:10:30 PM | Atheism, Doubt, Faith, Morals, Questions, Suffering, Truth, Worldviews

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Victor E. Pearson

With the commission from God to point people to and teach them the truth, I have created this blog to glorify God and to do His will. I am pleased that you are open minded to learning about Christian views on faith, morality and God.

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