Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
Genesis 22:1 1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt [in this case it means test or prove] Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Why would this have been such a hard test for Abraham?
Can you imagine the thoughts that he must have had:1) He was strapped on the altar once to be sacrificed,
2) This was his only son
3) he was given certain promises through Isaac...would they be forfitted?
How did Abraham respond to God's command to sacrifice Isaac?
Genesis 22:3-10
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Now Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac.God told Abraham to make the sacrifice at a place called Moriah...it was 3 days journey.Imagine how Abrahams heart must have felt for that three days. It was not a quick let's just go get this over with...plenty of change to back out.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
What can we learn from Abraham about faith and obedience?
READ Genesis 18:17-19
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; [the thing which he do is to require Abraham to sacrifice Isaac so why did the Lord require that Abraham offer up Isaac? To allow Abraham the experience see D&C 122:5-7 ]
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
What do you think that Abraham learned about himself from this experience?
Read D&C 101:4 4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.
Why do you think this is necessary, for us to be tried even as Abraham?
Read D&C 101:4
5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.
35 And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory.
36 Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.
37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.
38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.
In light of the fact that we must be tried let's look at how Joseph Smith was tried...
D&C 122:5-7
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can't you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
Jacob 4:5 5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, in pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten son.
What are some of the similiaritites between Abrahams willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Heavenly Fathers willingness to sacrifice his only begotten?
1) Issac was a mircle birth so was Christ
2) Issac was willing to yield to the will of his father because Abraham was about 133 years old.
3) Age was 25-37 maybe 33 same age as Christ
4) Issac carried the wood that would be used in the offering/ Christ the cross
5) Issac ask were is the Lamb? To which Abraham responded God wiil provide a LambÓ the ram in the thicket was a double type representing a substitute for Isaac as well as representing Christ which is the final and last offering
What are the differences between the two?
In what way can we be compared to Isaac?
If Isaac represents us who does the Ram in the thicket represent?
How did Isaac respond to the fact that his father was going to sacrifice him?
What kind of Father must have Abraham have been to have Isaac a 25-37 year old man go up and lie down allowing your father to sacrifice you?
Build a strong committment to God that we may be able to...