Abraham Offers Isaac
God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, and God provides a ram in Isaac's place.
Genesis 22:1-19
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The Story
After all the years of waiting, after the miracle of Isaac's birth, God spoke words that must have pierced Abraham's heart like a sword: '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 a mountain I will show you.'
How could this be? Isaac was the promised son, the heir of the covenant, the fulfillment of everything God had said. Yet Abraham did not argue or delay. Early the next morning, he saddled his donkey, took two servants and Isaac, cut wood for the burnt offering, and set out.
On the third day, Abraham saw the place in the distance. 'Stay here with the donkey,' he told his servants. 'The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you.' We—did Abraham believe God would raise Isaac from the dead? The writer of Hebrews says yes.
As they walked together, Isaac spoke: 'Father? The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?'
Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb, my son.'
When they reached the place, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar atop the wood. He reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
'Abraham! Abraham!' the angel of the Lord called from heaven. '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.'
Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He sacrificed it instead of his son. He named that place 'The Lord Will Provide.'
God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham: 'Because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.'
Centuries later, on a mountain in that same region, God would not spare His own Son, but would give Him up for us all.
Abraham Trusts God
Kids Version
Abraham loved his son Isaac SO much. Isaac was the son God had promised, the son Abraham had waited so long for.
Then God asked Abraham to do something very, very hard. It was a test. 'Abraham, take Isaac to a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice to Me.'
Abraham's heart must have hurt so much. But Abraham trusted God completely. He believed that God is good and always has a plan.
The next morning, Abraham and Isaac started walking to the mountain. Isaac carried the wood. Abraham carried the fire and knife.
'Father?' Isaac asked. 'We have wood and fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?'
Abraham said, 'God will provide the lamb, my son.'
They climbed the mountain. Abraham built an altar and put the wood on it. Then... he put Isaac on the altar. He raised the knife.
'ABRAHAM! ABRAHAM!' an angel shouted from heaven. 'STOP! Don't hurt the boy! Now I know you trust God more than anything. You didn't hold back even your son from God.'
Abraham looked up. There was a ram caught in the bushes! God had provided! Abraham sacrificed the ram instead of Isaac.
Abraham named that place 'God Will Provide.'
This story teaches us something very important. Many years later, God would send His own Son, Jesus, to die for us. God provided the perfect sacrifice so we can be forgiven and live with Him forever.
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Scripture — Genesis 22:1-19 (KJV)
1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. Behold: Heb. Behold me
2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3And 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.
4Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And 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? lamb: or, kid
8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9And 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.
10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Jehovahjireh: that is, The Lord will see, or, provide
15And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; shore: Heb. lip
18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
19So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
Memory Verse
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. Behold: Heb. Behold me”
— Genesis 22:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Abraham Offers Isaac” in the Bible?
God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeys, and God provides a ram in Isaac's place. This story is found in Genesis 22:1-19.
Where is “Abraham Offers Isaac” found in the Bible?
“Abraham Offers Isaac” is found in Genesis 22:1-19, in the book of Genesis.
What can children learn from “Abraham Offers Isaac”?
This story teaches children about Faith, Obedience, God's provision, Foreshadowing Christ. God asked Abraham to do something very hard to test his faith. Abraham trusted God completely. At the last moment, God provided a ram instead. God saw that Abraham loved Him most of all.