Abraham Is Tested, and God Provides

22:1 Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. 22:2 God said, “Take your son – your only son, whom you love, Isaac – and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.” 22:3 Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about. 22:4 On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place in the distance. 22:5 So he said to his servants, “You two stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go up there. We will worship and then return to you.” 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. 22:7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father?” “What is it, my son?” he replied. “Here is the fire and the wood,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 22:8 “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together. 22:9 When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 22:10 Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son. 22:11 But the Lord’s angel called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. 22:12 “Do not harm the boy!” the angel said. “Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.” 22:13 Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord provides.” It is said to this day, “In the mountain of the Lord provision will be made.” 22:15 The Lord’s angel called to Abraham a second time from heaven 22:16 and said, “‘I solemnly swear by my own name,’ decrees the Lord, ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 22:17 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies. 22:18 Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.’” 22:19 Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set out together for Beer Sheba where Abraham stayed. 22:20 After these things Abraham was told, “Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor – 22:21 Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), 22:22 Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 22:23 (Now Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.) These were the eight sons Milcah bore to Abraham’s brother Nahor. 22:24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore him children – Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

God tests Abraham by telling him to offer Isaac, the son of promise. Abraham obeys, but God stops the sacrifice and provides a ram instead. The Lord then renews His covenant promise with an oath.

This chapter is a severe test of Abraham’s faith. God tells him to take Isaac, his beloved covenant son, and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham obeys at once and goes to Moriah. On the way, Isaac asks where the lamb is. Abraham answers, “God will provide for himself the lamb.” At the last moment, the angel of the LORD stops the sacrifice. God does not allow Isaac to be killed. A ram is provided and offered in Isaac’s place. Abraham names the place to remember that the LORD provides. Then God confirms His promise again and swears by His own name that He will bless Abraham, multiply his descendants, and bring blessing to the nations through his line.

• God tested Abraham; this was a proving of faith, not approval of child sacrifice.
• Abraham obeyed quickly and went to the place God showed him.
• Isaac was the covenant son, so the command was deeply costly.
• Abraham’s words show trust that God would provide.
• God stopped the sacrifice at the decisive moment.
• The ram was offered instead of Isaac, showing substitution.
• God’s covenant promise was renewed with a sworn oath.
• The closing genealogy prepares for Rebekah and the next stage of the promised line.

• Warning: do not use this passage to justify child sacrifice or reckless spiritual actions.
• Command: trust and obey God even when obedience is costly.
• Promise: the LORD provides what He requires.
• Promise: God will bless Abraham, multiply his descendants, and use his line to bless the nations.
• Warning: the chapter is a unique covenant test and not a general model for parents or worshipers.

This passage stands in the Abrahamic covenant and confirms the promised offspring through Isaac. The substitute ram shows God’s provision in place of the son. The sworn promise keeps the covenant line moving forward toward the blessing of the nations.

Believers should learn to trust God when His command is hard and the outcome is hidden. We should not try to force God’s promises or imitate Abraham’s test. We should rest in God’s provision and obey Him with reverence.

• Lite Commentary
• In-depth Commentary