Genesis 22

The Message We Are Supposed to Get Genesis 22:1-19 Introduction: There are passages in the Scripture whose meaning is not immediately obvious, whose message is not immediately clear. They disrupt our simple formulas and predictable solutions which we seek force the Bible. We forget that there are strange things. And none is stranger than what is asked of Abraham in Genesis 22—to sacrifice his son Isaac. For example, how many of us have thought the message of the Bible was primarily moral instruction? The Bible tells us what to do and how to do it. We will be saved as we strive to live according to God’s commands. To be sure, moral instruction is a part of the Bible’s goal. Here in Genesis 22, we see that Abraham is tested by the Lord to discern his character. But is morality the core message? After all, at first glance it seems that morality is being thrown out the window when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his own son? Surely there is more going on here than simple obedience. Others of us think the primary message of the Bible is about a heavenly escape. The Bible informs me about “how to be saved.” By that, we mean the Bible instructs us on how we can rid ourselves of this world and all of its problems. Our aim is to pursue life on a higher plane and eventually leave this world behind. Well, there is truth here too. We recognize that the Bible does have a message of salvation. But is it salvation by leaving this world behind? The life of Abraham might lead us to that conclusion. After all, he was asked by God to leave his family, his country and his old ways behind to go to a new land. However, when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, he is asking him to put that entire future promised to him at risk. Maybe an “other-worldly” escape is not the focus of the Bible either. Okay, so if it not moral instruction or heavenly escape what is the message we are supposed to get? At the very least, Genesis 22 challenges any superficial reading of the Bible because it