Reading 8 - Isaac's birth and 'sacrifice'
(Click here to read Genesis 21:1 - 22:19)


Since our last reading, Abram ("exalted father") has acquired a new syllable in his name and become Abraham, which means "Father of many"; (see Genesis 17:3-5). Since his first call, God has promised to make Abram the father of a great nation no less than four times (12: 2-3, 13:16, 15:4-5, 17:2-5). For Abraham, though, there is still no tangible evidence: after 25 years he is still without an heir. In fact, he (with Sarah's connivance) has tried to 'help God out' by fathering a child with Hagar - an initiative which has long-lasting consequences for the people of Israel in the future.


It seems, too, that the unfulfilled promise became, over the years, a family joke! In 17:17 and 18:12, first Abraham and then Sarah laugh at the thought of bearing a child in their old age: to them it now seems impossible and just laughable. Their (understandable) impatience is contrasted with God's perfect timing, noted in verse 2 of our reading: "Sarah became pregnant... at the very time God had promised him." Perhaps Abraham had the wit and wisdom to incorporate a reminder of his scepticism into Isaac's name, which means "he laughs".


In a fairy tale, this would be the 'happy ever after' moment, but there are more challenges ahead for Abraham. First Sarah demands the dismissal of his first son, Ishmael, and his mother Hagar, a development which clearly distressed Abraham until God assures him that this is part of his plan. Then, when things have settled down, God drops the final bombshell: "Go and sacrifice Isaac".


What thoughts and emotions Abraham must have experienced at that command! On the one hand, the promise and its apparent fulfilment in Isaac; on the other hand, the possibility of losing his beloved son Isaac - and at his father's own hand - and of more hoping and longing. Does this throw any light on what the Father felt at the events of Calvary?


Was Abraham by now so convinced of God's providence that he could cheerfully go up Mount Moriah in the assurance that he wouldn't have to sacrifice the son? It seems unlikely, yet he is obedient right up to the point of raising his knife over the body of the trussed-up Isaac.


Why did God need to test Abraham like this? What effect did it have on the young Isaac? We may never know the true answers to these questions, but we can be assured that God is the Sovereign Lord and knows what he is doing. His purposes will be fulfilled, in spite of our lack of faith, impatience, disobedience and our misguided attempts to help things along.