Episode 8: The sacrifice of Isaac

(Genesis 22)

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God tells Abraham to kill his son, Isaac

22 ¹God tempted Abraham by saying,

²Take your only son Isaac, the one that you love, and offer him to me as a burnt sacrifice.

Abraham prepares to kill Isaac for God

³Abraham saddled his donkey while his son Isaac gathered firewood. Then he piled the wood on Isaac's back, took fire and a knife, and went to the place where God had chosen.

⁷When they arrived, Isaac asked his father, "Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

⁸Abraham replied, "God will provide a lamb."

An angel to the rescue

⁹When they arrived at the place God selected for the sacrifice, Abraham built and altar, arranged the wood, tied Isaac down, and prepared to kill his son with his knife.

¹¹Then he heard an angel calling out from heaven, saying,

¹²Don't kill the boy.

Now I know that you fear God, since you were willing to kill your only son for me.

¹³Abraham then saw a ram caught in a thicket. He caught the ram and offered it to God instead of his son.

God blesses Abraham for his willingness to kill his son

¹⁶God swears to himself, saying,

I swear to myself that since you were willing to kill your only son for me, ¹⁷ I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars and the sand of the seashore. ¹⁸They will possess the land of their enemies, and all of the nations will be blessed in them.