Chapter 22
22:1-2 States that God is going to test Isaac. God instructs Abraham to offer Isaac as a whole burnt offering. I wonder what was going through Abraham's mind. Also, why would God want to test Abraham? It goes to show that even those who find favor with God are tested, and you might even say those people are especially tested. What is Sarah's reaction to all of this?
22:3 Here it describes some of the preparations that Abraham does for the offering. His commitment to God is unwavering; at the time of God's message and even during preparation, Abraham never questions God's orders. I guess this goes to show that we are never to question God, for what will we try to gain by asking questions? The only appropriate question is simply 'how' to get it done.
22:4 It was a three-day trek and the mountains were visible.
22:5 Isaac is referred to as lad. Abraham tells his 2 servants to stay back with the donkey. Since the servants are from the house of Abraham, they should belong to the same faith; thus believing in the same God. They should be allowed to stay with Abraham for worship.
22:6 Abraham and Isaac go toward the site. Abraham carries the fire and the knife, while Isaac carries the firewood. Abraham is carrying the dangerous items while Isaac is carrying the heavier items. Shows a power dynamic between the two.
22:7 Isaac asks where the sheep is for the burnt offering.
22:8 Abraham states that God will provide the sheep for the offering. This could be a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ based on how this is worded.
22:9 Abraham set up an altar. Why does Abraham set up an altar everywhere he go rather than just using preexisting ones? He binds Isaac, I wonder how much suspicion Isaac feels.
22:10-12 Right as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, an Angel called out from heaven commanding him to stop. Angel states "for My sake you have not spared your beloved son." This tells us that this Angel must be God taking on the form of an Angel. Abraham only reveres God, not a lower angel. Angel also states "now I know you fear God." This tells us that this was all a test.
22:13-14 There was a ram who was stuck, this was used in place of his son as a burnt offering. Is it acceptable to sacrifice rams instead of pure lambs? This place is called "The-Lord-Has-Appeared," today this is called Mount Moriah.
22:15-16 Angel calls to Abraham a second time. Essentially renews the vow that God had made previously. Verse 16 can be a little confusing because it can be interpreted in two different ways: First is that the Angel is Lord and is referring to Himself, or the second which is that the Angel is a messenger who speaks on behalf of the Lord.
22:17-19 Angel states that God will fulfill His side and Abraham returned to the Well of Oath.
22:20-24 Lists off the children of Abraham's brother, Nahor. Nahor had Huz, Buz, Kemuel, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel by Milcah (8). Nahor had Tebh, Gaham, Thahash, and Machah by his concubine Reumah (4).
Other Remarks:
Even those who follow God are to be tested. Shows that following God is never the "easy path." (v.1)
It is never our role to question God. When God commands something, who are we to question the validity of His authority? God knows and understands all circumstances of everything. With His great knowledge, He has chosen this specific path. So what then would we gain by trying to adjust His path which is always pointed in the best direction for us. This makes the only valid question "How would you like this done?" (v.3)
This blameless sacrifice is referred to a parallel of Christ sacrifice in the New Testament. The three day trek can be compared to the similar 3 days of suffering faced by Christ (ash Wednesday to good Friday). (v.4)
Servants are from the same house fo Abraham, thus they believe in the same God. They should be allowed to worship and thus might have gained some suspicion when Abraham asked them to stay back. If Abraham wanted to save his son without directly defying God, he could have not had his servants stay behind. The fact that Abraham did leave his servants behind tells us that he was 100% committed to the task (v.5).
In this verse the grammatical structure and the way that Abraham states that God will provide the offering also tells us that God Himself will be the offering. This could be a foreshadowing of the coming and sacrifice of Christ (v.8).
Angel of the Lord is actually God in the form of an Angel. This conclusion is based off of the wordage used by the Angel, insisting that the Angel has Divine power and a connection already established with Abraham. OSB also has Angel capitalized. (v.11)
It is important that the Bible states that the angel was from heaven. This story could have easily been interpreted differently if a fallen angel had commanded Abraham to stop (v.15).
When the Angel calls out a second time, it is a little confusing about the Angel's status; if we use the previous calling of the Angel as a reference, then it is clearly the first interpretation that is correct (v.16).
OSB states that God swore by Himself because there is nothing greater to swear by; this clears up confusion in v.16.
Questions:
Why does God want to test Abraham, especially if he has been faithful his entire life? (v.1)
How many altars has Abraham built? Are there no pre-existing altars? (v.9)
What is the difference and/or symbolism that a ram was used instead of a blameless sheep for the offering? (v.13)
Why was it important to list out Abraham's nephews and nieces? (v.20)
Things to Add to Prayer:
Help us to abide faithfully to your commands without wavering
-Mikhael
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Mount Moriah
2 Chronicles 3:1-14
Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign. This is the foundation which Solomon laid for building the house of God:…
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Wild Bill Hickok & Calamity Jane | Deadwood Mount Moriah Cemetery
Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are two famous graves right next to each other in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. We will tour the famous graveyard in Deadwood, SD to visit Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are two famous graves right next to each other in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota. We will tour the famous graveyard in Deadwood, SD to visit Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane to famous characters of the Old West and history.
Learn more in the video by Generations Found YouTube:
Deadwood, South Dakota
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Puppy was very popular at Mount Moriah! Photos at the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden.
Thanks for the love, Philly. Now back to GA to clean up my mail backlog and finalize moving.
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