The Good Book | Bible

I have seen a post on another Web site about this same subject. The author has it titled: Ritual Human Sacrifice (Why does GOD want me to burn animals and humans?). That is probably one of the most ignorant and irresponsible statements concerning the Holy Bible that I've ever seen. Absolutely no where in the Holy Bible does the LORD GOD Jehovah instruct HIS people to sacrifice humans -- that is a blatant lie and slander! As a matter of fact, GOD curses the people because they toss their own children in the fire! HE hates things like that.

A very ridiculous example these atheists and agents of Satan use to make you - the passing visitor (who they know will most likely NOT pick up a Holy Bible and read) - believe that GOD 'delights in human sacrifice' is the passage of Genesis 22: 1-18. In the Holy Bible, this is known as the time when Abraham - called by GOD to found a nation for HIM (to inherit HIS creation) - has to confirm his faith... prove that he does indeed believe and trust in GOD.

How must Abraham prove himself ? - He must take his son to an altar and sacrifice him to and before the LORD.

You're like, wait a minute - what? Now, that's the only part of the entire passage from Genesis that the atheists will share with you... they give you no context, no history, no nothing. They just want you think that GOD is evil or wicked just on that verse alone. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER BLATANT, WICKED LIE of the devil and his atheists.

Don't worry, my friends, there's no way in heaven GOD would require any one of us to kill a blessing...and you will learn that Abraham's son, Isaac, was indeed given to him and his wife as a miracle blessing.

Let's look at it all in context as it is plainly given in the Holy Bible.

We first meet Abram (as he was called before he became 'father' to a nation...Abraham) in Gen. 11: 26, along with his two brothers (the verses before are all about his predecessors... it's like a genealogy list...read it).

We then go into Abram's story and are introduced to some important people in his life, such as his nephew Lot (of Sodom and Gomorrah 'fame') and his wife, Sarai (she too had a name change, which is Sarah).

In Gen. 12, we discover that GOD actually speaks to Abram and tells him to do something, and what HE, the LORD, will do for him in exchange:

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So Abram, in agreement with the LORD, packs up his stuff and his family and heads out...to wherever this place is GOD 'will show' him. Look at Abram's faith already - he doesn't even need to know specific details...he can take GOD at HIS Word. So, Lot (his nephew, whose father had died) and Sarai, of course, go off with Abram.

Now, in Gen. 15, things get a little interesting. GOD talks to Abram in a little more detail about how HE will bless him. Abram's like, that's great, but I don't even have any kids to inherit my stuff. My wife can't have children, we're both as old as dirt and my servants will probably inherit my stuff. How does GOD respond?

4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Isn't that amazing! GOD tells Abram, 'Don't even worry about an offspring! Your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren will be so numerous, it'll be like trying to count how many stars are in the night sky.

And how does Abram respond? - He says, 'OK. I believe YOU.' And he meant it. GOD was so impressed with his faith, HE said, 'Abram is indeed a good man, one I can trust and count on'...basically. Read it and re-read it for yourself to come to an understanding. Don't take my word for it.

In Gen. 16, we see how worked up and sadden Sarai is about not being able to have children. She gets so twisted about it, she tells her husband, Abram, to sleep with her maidservant (female servant). Abram does what she asks and this maidservent, Hagar, gets pregnant. Now Sarai's jealous! Boy oh boy... that's what we get for meddling, right? So, Sarai is all upset and starts treating Hagar like garbage (my interpretation for 'dealt harshly with her'). It appears that Sarai let her emotions get the best of her, again. Hagar takes off, which is probably what Sarai was hoping for. But GOD takes pity on Hagar, after all, she's with Abram's child. HE tells Hagar to go back home, everything will be OK and she'll have even more children for Abram. And HE tells her the one she's carrying already, Ishmael, will be father of a great people because of his own father. Read it.

You know how old Abram was when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael? - 86 years old. Remember, (or learn) GOD had already marked man to live only about 120 years (read it).

GOD pays another personal visit to Abram when he's 99, the Holy Bible says (read it). GOD re-iterates HIS promise, gives Abram a little more information, and explains his end of the covenant (or deal, if you will). The major thing was for every male to be circumcised (babies when they are 8 days old). So Abram circumcised Ishmael, himself (ouch! he was 99!) and all the men in his company (ouch! ouch! ouch!). There must have been a lot of crying and screaming in Abram's camp for days! But why circumcision? As I have recently learned (a good interpretation), it was an obvious, physical reminder (a symbol) for the people about their covenant with GOD. HE knew they'd need a constant reminder about their pact (Jesus changed all of that later, though). That very same day, the covenant was sealed, if you will, and GOD gave them new names: Abraham and Sarah.

And at some point later, GOD and two of HIS angels actually, physically stop by Abraham's home on their way to see what's going on in Sodom (and Gomorrah). GOD and HIS angels dine with Abraham (why not?) and GOD tells Abraham again that Sarah will soon have that child HE promised. Now, Abraham and Sarah were old...like practically dead :), so when Sarah overheard this old promise renewed, she laughed! She was like to herself, 'Yeah right! I'm way over the hill...ain't no way!' GOD heard her laugh and asked Abraham what she found so funny...nothing is too hard for the LORD to do. HE says again that she will have the child at the appointed time. Sarah was terrified when she realized that she was overheard and denied (to GOD HIMSELF) that she laughed. HE didn't get mad, I guess. GOD said to her, "No, but you did laugh!"


So do they have that kid? - Yes! Finally! In Gen. 21:
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.”
7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”


And the part we have all been waiting for (but you needed the back story, my friends):

KEY: (words like this are my own); the asterisks*** mean you should take special note; this [!huh!] means I don't get it; this [wow] means I'm amazed.

Genesis 22 - Abraham’s Faith Confirmed

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”***
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.***
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad (Isaac) and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”***
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”*** So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. [wow]
10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.***
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.*** So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven,
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” ***
19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.


INTERPRETATION:

Wow. What a passage... it's almost like watching the most suspenseful part of a movie.

So, let's take a look at this 'evil' GOD who delights in human sacrifice (rolling me eyes).

1. The first thing we read in this chapter is 'GOD tested Abraham'. This is only a test! Why? Because GOD wanted to see if Abraham would really be willing to go the whole mile. After all, GOD was asking him to do a very important thing -- be the holder of HIS covenant...to keep a part of creation sacred and set-aside for HIM. Would Abraham be willing to give up the most precious blessing in his life, his first and only son with his barren, senior citizen wife, Sarah?

2. Yes, yes, yes! Abraham was more than willing. What a faithful, reliable man. That's the kind of guy I'd want in my corner. He's loyal. Now, I find it interesting in verse 7 that innocent little Isaac is like, 'Dad, we've got the wood and all that, but aren't we forgetting the lamb for the actual sacrifice?' Poor kid :). But Abraham says firmly, without hesitation, 'GOD will provide for HIMSELF.' GOD doesn't need help; HE IS GOD.

3. I must note in verse 9 that even once they got up to the sacrificial altar, little Isaac didn't fight and kick and scream when it became quite clear that he was the sacrificial lamb. He just went along with his father... now that's faith. He obviously trusted his father. Now, some of you may wonder how I can even glean such a thing from these verses. Well, the Holy Bible only includes what is necessary for us to know (on the surface, anyway...more things are often revealed when you sit down with a 'calculator'). First off, it doesn't say Isaac fought to get away. It doesn't say Isaac hated or was afraid of his father afterwards. There were no hard feelings between the two because they had just shared a very awesome experience. Was Isaac afraid? - Most likely. Who wouldn't be? But the little boy wasn't afraid of his father. Again, that's my interpretation. What's yours?

4. GOD finally shows up in the nick of time and tells Abraham to chill with the knife, it was only a test...and he passed (again) with flying colors. Think about it. GOD calls him from his home and tells him to pack up and leave, HE's going to show him a new land that'll be just for him (he was a nomad like this for decades!). HE then tells him to cut the foreskin from his penis (at 99 years old!). And now, he tells him to kill his own son in sacrifice. Abraham never hesitated or flinched with any of these things GOD asked him to do. And yes, GOD asked him, because there was no way GOD was going to get a knife or send some people to circumcise Abraham and his folks...not that it's impossible. But it pleases GOD when we choose to obey HIM. HE wouldn't have chosen Abraham and Sarah if HE didn't already know that Abraham was 'the one'.

5. So, a ram suddenly appears in some bushes nearby and Abraham is relieved... 'GOD will provide,' he says. He unties his son and puts the real lamb in his place. GOD renews his promises to the man Abraham with a passion (swearing by HIMSELF, the ultimate AUTHORITY). Thank GOD Abraham was so obedient and pleasing to the LORD -- 'all the nations of the earth' are blessed by him. Hallelujah!


QUESTIONS:

So how would a lying atheist or Satan himself spin this meaningful test of Abraham's dedication and faith? They may say, for example, that just because it was a test and on one died, that it was still an incredibly mean and evil thing to do. They may even say that Abraham lied to Isaac to get him to go with him. But nowhere in the verses we just read (and those are all of them...I didn't pick and choose to try and 'convince' you of anything) does Abraham lie to Isaac. He says 'GOD will provide' because he was quite sure of it...he even named the altar on the mountain 'GOD WILL PROVIDE'. As for if it was an incredibly mean and evil thing to do, you know where I stand. Where you stand is...well, where you stand.

Where's the love in this passage? GOD was so moved by Abraham's willingness, that HE beefed up HIS promises and said, you know what, the entire world will benefit from what you have just done in this single moment, Abraham.

That is love.

As a matter of fact, it is written in the Holy Bible in James 2 (read it):
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the Friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

What is up with the animal sacrifice? As I've written previously, the wages of sin is death. But GOD is not going to ask you to kill yourself to show you're truly repentant. Instead, he has you spill the blood of an animal, which takes the place of you. It sounds crazy, I know, but it makes sense if GOD finds sins so deplorable that HE would permanently have you removed from HIS sight if you sinned so against HIM. Animal sacrifice is quite common in the pre-Messianic era (started with Moses...when the people accepted GOD's covenant but was still sinning up a storm). That all stopped, though, when Jesus the Christ died on the cross - he was the ultimate sin offering. So we no longer need to offer these sacrifices when we sin - we can sincerely repent in our acknowledgment of the sin - Jesus already did the sacrificing.

Now, did Abraham sin by doing simply what GOD had requested of him? I don't know. Is that why GOD gave him the ram to kill? I don't know. It doesn't spell it out in the Holy Bible (to me, anyway). If you have a theory/interpretation, please share it.

THE BOTTOM LINE If you are loyal to, obedient of and trust in GOD, HE will take care of you. HE will count you among HIS friends. A real relationship with GOD is not supposed to be easy. HE will constantly test your faith in HIM. HE won't let you sit around and get complacent, as many Christians do. If you really believe in Christ Jesus, you should show it and share it with whomever you are moved to. And you must remember, as it is written, GOD will never give HIS people more than they can handle (look it up).

But here is some extra reading regarding the issue of animal sacrifices... and here's a verse to let you know, when the purposefully misleading atheists or Satanists try to convince you that GOD just loves the blood of animals and senseless sacrifices (you should read the whole thing if you want to know why GOD is so pissed off):

Isaiah 1 (NKJV)

11 “ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”

Again, my brothers and sisters (we are all human, I hope), I'm not trying to convince you or convert you...I simply wish to show you the truth as it is written plainly (most times) in GOD's Holy Word the Holy Bible. GOD IS LOVE. GOD GETS ANGRY, SLOWLY. GOD GETS JEALOUS. GOD IS VENGEFUL. GOD IS JUST. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY. GOD IS PATIENT. GOD WISHES THAT NOT ONE WOULD BE LOST. GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. GOD DOESN'T GIVE YOU A PASS JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU.

GOD will kick your butt if HE feels you have wronged HIM (HE's not some inanimate statue in a church). If you can't handle the discipline and correction, that's just too bad. HE WILL NOT TURN A BLIND EYE TO YOUR WICKED WAYS AND HABITS just because HE loves you. You will be held accountable. GOD IS NOT EVIL just because HE requires you to be faithful and true. Remember, this is HIS world, HIS planet, HIS creation. We own nothing...not even the air we breathe. HE can do what HE will with it all and you and I. Period.

- Theist @ http://goodbible.blogspot.com/