Question 1

Why did God test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac?

Accepted Answer

God’s purpose in this test was not to push Abraham into sin, but to show and strengthen the faith He had already given him. Isaac was the promised son, the one through whom God had said blessing would come, so this command cut against everything Abraham could see and feel. By asking for Isaac, God brought Abraham to the point where he had to trust God’s word alone, even when it seemed to clash with what God had said before. This test reveals real faith as willing to obey God and leave the outcome in His hands.

Question 2

What is the meaning of Abraham’s words, “God will provide himself a lamb”?

Accepted Answer

When Isaac noticed the fire and wood but no animal, Abraham answered, “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” He did not yet see how God would work, but he trusted that God would supply what was needed to keep His promise. These words show Abraham’s faith resting on God’s care and timing. They also point ahead to the way God later provides a substitute sacrifice in Isaac’s place, and, in a fuller way, to God providing His own Son as the true sacrifice for sin.

Question 3

Why does the passage repeat that Isaac is Abraham’s only son whom he loves?

Accepted Answer

The repeated phrases “thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest” underline how costly this command is. Isaac is not just any child; he is Abraham’s long-awaited son, the only heir born according to God’s promise, and deeply loved. Each phrase presses home the pain Abraham would feel and shows that obedience here means holding nothing back from God, not even what is most precious. It teaches that love for God is meant to be greater than every other love, even as God later shows His own love by sparing Isaac and providing another way.

Question 4

What is the significance of the land of Moriah in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The land of Moriah is the place God chose for this test. It later becomes known as a place where God is worshiped and where His presence is honored. By sending Abraham there, God links this hard trial with His own worship and future dealings with His people. The setting tells us this is not random cruelty, but part of God’s plan. On that mountain Abraham builds an altar, lays Isaac on the wood, and is ready to offer him, showing that true worship can involve deep sacrifice and trust that God will still provide.

Question 5

Why did Abraham tell his servants, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you”?

Accepted Answer

Abraham’s words to his servants show that, even as he walked in obedience, he expected God somehow to bring Isaac back. He speaks of both of them returning, though he is on his way to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. This points to his belief that God could even raise Isaac from the dead rather than let His promise fail. Abraham does not know the details, but he trusts that God’s command and God’s promise will not finally clash, and he walks forward based on that trust.

Question 6

What does this passage teach about faith and obedience in hard trials?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that real faith does not mean we will never face painful commands or confusing seasons. Abraham obeys early, prepares the wood, travels for three days, and goes up the mountain, all while knowing what God has asked. His feelings do not lead the way; God’s word does. Yet his faith is not blind; it looks for God’s provision and holds to God’s promise even when the path hurts. For believers today, this calls us to obey God’s clear commands and trust His character, even when we cannot see how things will work out.

Question 7

Why does Abraham bind Isaac and lay him on the altar?

Accepted Answer

Abraham binding Isaac and laying him on the wood shows that he is willing to carry the command all the way through, not just part of the way. It also suggests that Isaac himself is submitting to what God has said, since there is no hint of struggle. Isaac is strong enough to carry the wood up the mountain, so he likely could have resisted, but instead he allows his father to bind him. This picture points to willing obedience and trust, and prepares us for how God later provides a substitute in Isaac’s place.

Question 8

What does this passage show about God’s character toward His people?

Accepted Answer

Even before the ram appears later in the story, this passage already hints that God is both testing and caring. He knows Abraham by name, speaks with him, and chooses a specific place and time. He does not test to break Abraham, but to show the faith He has worked in him and to deepen it. By leading Abraham to say, “God will provide himself a lamb,” God is teaching Abraham to look to Him for the answer. We see that God’s ways can be hard to understand, yet He remains faithful and provides at the right moment.

Genesis 22:1

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

The Offering of Isaac

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Genesis 22:1

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

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The Offering of Isaac

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