ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE

ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE

Ismael or Isaac?

Which son did Abraham offer as a sacrifice? I have been in a number of discussions where this question was asked. Because of all the controversy that results from a discussion like this, at times one might be tempted to wonder, does it really matter which son it was? A lot can be learned from the account without knowing which son it was. But if God has told us which one it was, it does matter. After all, to ignore God's Word would be disrespectful to God and guide on the wrong path. Further revelation is build on earlier revelation so if these matters aren't understood, we will misunderstand later revelation. Let's think through this together.

The Only Son

In the Holy Bible the words "only son" are used three times in reference to Isaac in Genesis 22. In all three verses the Hebrew word, (yâchîyd or yahid, pronounced yaw-kheed¢ ) is used. The Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, by James Strong, ©1890, p. 49 is rendered as,

united, i.e. sole; by implication, beloved; also lonely; (feminine) the life (as not to be replaced): -darling, desolate, only (child, son), solitary.

It comes from the root word yâchad or yâhad meaning,

to be (or become) one: -join, unite.

(The preceeding facts are also documented in the The Interlinear NIV Hebrew-English Old Testament by John R. Kohlenberger III, © 1979 p. 50-52and Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, by Harris, Waltke and Archer, © 1980 Moody Press, p. 372-373.)

The English word "only" has a number of shades of meanings. All of the shades of meaning of the Hebrew word (yâchîyd or yahid) are included in the meanings of the English word "only".

Four are used as adverbs:

1. solely, merely, exclusively; and no one or nothing more besides 2. no longer ago than 3. not until 4. with no better result than

Two are used as adjectives:

1. existing alone of its or their kind 2. best or alone worth considering

Unfortunately today some people for various reasons try to convince others that the word "only" simply means "one" in number. As we see, this is not the case.

Another important fact to note is that in Genesis 21 Abraham sends Hagar and Ismael away with some water and food. Then in the verses 1 and 2 of Genesis 22 it says,

"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

When God spoke to Abraham he only had one son with him; Isaac was his solitary son. This is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word, (yâchîyd or yahid) and also the word "only" in English, which has the meaning "best or alone worth considering." In Genesis 22: 2 the phrase "Take your son, your only son Issac" is immediately followed by "whom you love". This phrase "whom you love" further defines the meaning of "only son". This leaves no doubt who this son was. Isaac was the son that was living with Abraham. He was also the best-beloved son of promise through whom God had promised to bless all the peoples of the earth, ". . . it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."(Genesis 21:12b) As we have seen, the English word "only" carries the meanings the Hebrew word. So the Holy Bible is consistent in this matter.

The Qur'anic Account

What does the Qur'an say? The Qur'anic account doesn't mention a name at all. (Sura 37:99-111, A.Yusuf Ali) Some Muslims have told the author of this article that Ismael is mentioned directly after the Qur'anic account of Abraham sacrificing his son. Both verses following this account mention Isaac. (Sura 37:112,113) There is no mention of Ismael at all in this section.

Is Sacrifice Needed?

At this point you may be thinking, "Why does there need to be a sacrifice anyway?" But then the question arises, "Why was Abraham's son ransomed by a sacrifice?" The fact is that both the Bible and the Qur'an agree that Abraham's son was ransomed. The Bible says that God decided to test Abraham, so he told Abraham to take his son up into the mountain to sacrifice him to God. Abraham loved God so he was willing to do whatever God asked him to do. When he saw that Abraham would not withhold anything from him, God told him to stop. He said, "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."(Genesis 22:12) Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram. He took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering to God in place of his son. We know this pleased God because God blessed Abraham after this. Abraham named this place, "The LORD Will Provide."(Genesis 22:14)

What did God provide? A sacrifice. Was it the sacrifice he commanded Abraham to give? No, but at his own command, he stopped the sacrifice of the son, and provided a substitute instead. Could Abraham reject what God has provided? No. We too have been provided a sacrifice for our sin. Abraham honored God. We too can honor God by accepting the sacrifice that God has provided for us. This sacrifice is the life and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hazrat Isa Al-Mesih). Jesus himself said, "The Son of Man is not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many."(Mark 10:45) Long before Jesus' death, John the Baptist (Yahya) pointed at Jesus (Hazrat Isa Al-Mesiah) and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."(John 1:29) Can we reject this sacrifice? Only at great cost--the cost of eternal separation from God. Receiving God's sacrifice shows obedience, honor and devotion; and reaps the great favor of God.

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