Then you start asking different questions. The acts themselves seem strange until you see them as an acted out allegory. Throughout the Bible, God asked prophets to reenact in miniature things that he would do on a larger scale. The story of Abraham and Isaac takes on a larger significance when you place it in the context of prophetic reenactment. This is certainly the case with our next point-prophetic reenactment. In other cases, referencing other points in the biblical tradition can shed light on difficult passages. A surface reading may hide a characterвЂ™s motivations and intentions. When the Bible depicts violence, things are often not what they seem at first glance. Instead of a resurrection, Abraham was spared the sacrifice. It says, вЂњHe considered that God was able even to raise from the deadвЂќ (Hebrews 11:19). The author of the book of Hebrews gives us insight to AbrahamвЂ™s thoughts. It seems Abraham prepared himself to do what God asked, but he expected something else to happen. Abraham responds, вЂњGod himself will provide the lambвЂќ (Genesis 22:8). Or consider IsaacвЂ™s question about where the lamb for the sacrifice would come from.

The text is careful to include both Abraham and Isaac in the return journey. When they reached the mountain, Abraham told his servant, вЂњStay here with the donkey I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to youвЂќ (Genesis 22:5). Once, he even asked God, вЂњWill not the judge of all the earth do right?вЂќ (Genesis 18:25) After this encounter, perhaps Abraham settled this question in his mind once and for all.ДЄbraham obeyed GodвЂ™s unexpected command because he trusted GodвЂ™s promise and knew him to be good and trustworthy. God had already revealed himself to Abraham many times through AbrahamвЂ™s successes and failures, his faith and fear, in promises and forgiveness. This WasnвЂ™t AbrahamвЂ™s First Experience with God When we look at the context of this story, we notice three things that lead us to greater understanding of this problematic passage in Genesis 22. Why would God promise him a son and then take the son away? At best, it feels like a strange inconsistency. This comes in the very next chapter (Genesis 22) when God tells Abraham to take his beloved son and sacrifice him. And after decades of waiting, Isaac was born.Д«ut the long wait for Isaac wasnвЂ™t AbrahamвЂ™s true test. One day, Abraham will have a son, and his descendants will be a great nation. Although this problem lurks in the background of AbrahamвЂ™s story, God reaffirms his promise. But thereвЂ™s a problem: Abraham is childless and his wife is barren. God calls a man named Abram, later known as Abraham, to launch his plan to rescue and bless the whole world through AbrahamвЂ™s family (Genesis 12). This all leads up to the rebellion and scattering of the people from Babylon (Genesis 11). However, the humans misuse their rule, and the world spins out of control into violence and death. Genesis 1-11 tells the story of how God created all things and made humans in his image to rule on his behalf.

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