Stilling Waves Bible Genesis 22

Genesis 22

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Translation

World English Bible (WEB), a modern translation.

Before you read

This is one of the hardest chapters in Scripture. God tests Abraham by telling him to offer Isaac, the long-awaited son of promise, as a burnt offering on a mountain in Moriah. Abraham sets out early, and on the third day father and son climb together. At the last moment the angel of the LORD stops him, and a ram caught in a thicket is offered instead. In Hebrew the story is known as the Akedah, the binding, and Christians have long seen in it a foreshadowing of Christ. Watch Isaac's question in verse 7.

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.

11The LORD’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 “The LORD Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On the LORD’s mountain, it will be provided.”

15The LORD’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,

16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says the LORD, ‘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.

Meditate

Genesis 22 meditation and reflection

Abraham climbs Moriah with Isaac, the wood, and the knife, and God provides a ram. This chapter is hard to read. What do you fear placing in God's hands?

Read the chapter slowly

In the King James Version: Genesis 22:8

Read it slowly, then sit with the prompt. Free: stillingwaves.com/bible/genesis/22/
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain).Scripture: King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom; in the United Kingdom under Crown patent.

Sit with this: a guided reflection

You do not have to make this chapter comfortable. A father binds his son and raises a knife, and the text says God asked it. It is right to feel the weight of that, and many faithful readers have felt it before you. Notice the details: the two of them walking on together (verses 6 and 8), Isaac carrying the wood, his question about the lamb, and Abraham's answer, which may be faith or a father unable to say more; Hebrews 11 reads it as faith that God could raise the dead. Think of Isaac too, who says nothing further in the chapter. Christians have long linked this hill with another Son who carried wood up a slope, and with a Father who did not spare him. Where has God seemed strange or hard to you? Can you stay near him without resolving everything? Tell him honestly what this story stirs in you.

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