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Bare, rocky hills seen from far off at dawn, one high summit catching the first light above valleys still in shadow.

The Book of

Genesis 22

God asks Abraham for the son He promised. On a mountain far from home, God shows what He will provide.

24 verses≈ 4 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
  2. 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promiseChapter 22
  3. 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
  4. 37–50JosephGod meant it for good

The Offering of Isaac

God

Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

Abraham

“Here I am,” he answered.

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“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

An old man and a boy, seen from behind, climbing a bare mountain path at dawn, the boy carrying a bundle of wood.

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.

Isaac

Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”

Abraham

“Here I am, my son,” he replied.

Isaac

“The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

Genesis 22:8

And the two walked on together.

When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

Reflect

Here I am

Three times in this chapter Abraham answers, “Here I am”: to God, to his son, and to the angel. He didn’t understand the command, and he still got up “early the next morning.” Obedience often starts before the answers come. What is God asking you to hand over or to trust Him with right now? Write it down, and write what you know of Him that makes Him worth trusting.

The LORD Provides the Sacrifice

The angel of the LORD

Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!”

Abraham

“Here I am,” he replied.

The angel of the LORD

“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide.

So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Question

Quick question

Isaac asked where the lamb was. Abraham answered with faith, and God answered on the mountain.

What did Abraham offer as a burnt offering in the end?

A long, empty seashore at dawn, wet sand stretching away to the horizon, the last stars fading above.

And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

0:27

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed

Genesis 22:18

Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.

God will provide

Where is thelamb?Isaac’s question(22:7)God willprovideAbraham’s answer(22:8)The ramin place of his son(22:13)The LORD WillProvideAbraham names theplace (22:14)Moriahlater the templemountGod’s own Son‘He did not spare Hisown Son’

Whiteboard

Isaac asked, “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb.” God gave a ram “in place of his son,” and the place was named “The LORD Will Provide.” Solomon later built the temple on Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1), and near Jerusalem God at last gave the Lamb Himself: He ‘did not spare His own Son’ (Romans 8:32).

Pray

The Lamb provided

God stopped Abraham’s hand and spared Isaac. He did not spare His own Son. Thank God for the Lamb He provided in Jesus, who died in your place. Then bring Him whatever you are holding back, and ask Him for the trust Abraham had: that the God who provides is good, and can even raise the dead.

The Sons of Nahor

Black goat-hair tents and wide flocks of sheep and goats on the open northern plain of Mesopotamia in late afternoon, a mud-brick town on a low mound far off.

Family line

Family news from far away

  1. Nahor

    Married Milcah

    • Uz
    • Buz
    • Kemuel
    • Chesed
    • Hazo
    • Pildash
    • Jidlaph
    • Bethuel

    Abraham’s brother

    Some time later, Abraham was told, “Milcah has also borne sons to your brother Nahor: Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram), Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”

  2. Bethuel
    • Rebekah

    And Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.

  3. Eight sons by Milcah

    Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham’s brother Nahor.

  4. Reumah
    • Tebah
    • Gaham
    • Tahash
    • Maacah

    Nahor’s concubine

    Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

You’ve experienced

Genesis 22

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A verse to carry with you

God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

Genesis 22:8

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