As a parent, you know that you would do almost anything for your children. Most parents will tell you they would kill, and even die to protect their children. The greatest grief any parent could bear is to lose a child. When a parent is somehow involved in the accidental death of their child, the pain is excruciating. The thought of willingly taking the life of our child is almost unimaginable.
This is what makes Genesis 22, where Abraham is asked to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, such a compelling story. We find this story both fascinating and troubling. And yet this story is foundational for three different faiths.
The ancient Jewish teachers, the Rabbis, taught that Abraham underwent 10 tests from the hands of God. Each test became more difficult, challenging Abraham in ever greater ways. And when they came to Genesis 22, where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, the Rabbis said this was Abraham’s tenth and greatest test. And it was because he passed this test, in part, that Abraham became their hero of faith, their spiritual father.
But it isn’t just the ancient Jews who look to Abraham. 1300 years ago, Muhammed was so captivated by this story, that he flipped it around so that in the Koran it is Ishmael,not Isaac, that Abraham is called to sacrifice. And so Ishmael becomes the legendary forefather of Muslims. To this day Muslims view this event as one of the most important in their religion. Every year millions of Muslims commemorate this sacrifice by reenacting it during their annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
As Christians the near sacrifice of Isaac is significant for entirely other reasons. God’s providing a substitute lamb for sacrifice foreshadows of God’s offering of his own Son, Jesus Christ. For he too carried the wood for his own sacrifice. He too would die on this very mountain. And God did indeed provide Him as the perfect lamb for sacrifice, not just for Abraham, but for every single one of us.