The Bible, being a sacred book of Christians of all movements and faiths, contains a deep meaning that is not always clear from the first reading. Preachers often advise parishioners to re-read the chapters of the Old and New Testaments several times in order to realize the message that they make. A special place in the sermons on the love of God is occupied by the sacrifice of Abraham - a story told in the Old Testament.
Abraham: the biblical patriarch
The biblical parable of Abraham is very important to all Christians. After all, he is one of the first people with whom God spoke after the Flood. He became the ancestor of the entire Jewish people and made a covenant with the Lord, which became the basis for the salvation of mankind. The period that began with Abraham in the Bible is called patriarchal. It lasts until the exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
It was from Abraham that the incarnation of God's plans began in each person individually and in all people as a whole.
God's testimonies to Abraham
The Bible describes Abraham's life in great detail before his first conversation with God. He was born into a wealthy family of idolaters and from an early age he was distinguished by a meek disposition and a flexible mind. After reaching a certain age, Abraham married his free sister Sarah and believed in the Lord. It is difficult to say what was the impetus for this event, but his faith was strong and unshakable. Abraham began to convince his family and other people to believe in the One God and stop buying idols. He constantly preached and annoyed all the inhabitants of Ur where he was born. People began to pursue his family and burn their trading shops. It was then that the Lord first appeared to Abraham and ordered him to gather all his loved ones and go to other lands, which in the future will be the heritage of his descendants. Surprisingly, at that time he was seventy-five years old.
The biblical parable testifies that Abraham did not doubt the words of the Lord for a second and confided in him, leaving his home and secured life.
The Prophecy of the Birth of Isaac
The Bible says that the Lord did not leave Abraham for a single day of his existence. Everywhere, wherever he stopped, he had many tents and cattle. He had a large amount of gold and silver, and all his property could not fit in one caravan. Abraham mourned about only one thing - he had no heirs. His wife Sarah and he himself were already old, and children in their family did not appear. And then God again appeared to his chosen one and informed that he would become the father of the child, from whom the whole nation would descend. In the future, it is among these people that the Human Savior will be born. In addition, the Lord revealed to Abraham the fate of the people who descended from him for several centuries to come.
Temptations
God tempted Abraham by bringing him to the Promised Land. Not always God's chosen one worthily endured all trials and did not hesitate in faith, but everywhere the Lord instructed him and forgave. Abraham showed his greatest cowardice when famine began in his lands. Instead of enjoying the divine blessing, he lost cattle and servants, so he violated God's orders and went to Egypt.
But God brought him back to the Promised Land and made a covenant with him. According to him, the Lord will give the descendants of Abraham vast territories, and the chosen one of God will finally receive the long-awaited son.
The birth of Isaac
Before Abraham turned one hundred years old, he met with three wanderers who predicted him the birth of the long-awaited heir in a year. Sarah only laughed at the words of the wanderers, because at that time she was eighty-nine years old, and she had long since lost hope of becoming a mother.
But soon she became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy and strong boy. This event was surprising to everyone who learned about the happiness of Abraham. Therefore, the newborn was named Isaac, which means "laughter."
The meaning of the birth of Isaac
In the Bible, Isaac is called the “fruit of faith.” This is a very important point that has a deep religious meaning. Indeed, contrary to all ridicule and time, Abraham did not lose faith in God and his revelation, he continued to live and simply patiently waited for the fulfillment of the promise.
It is the stamina of Abraham that is cited as an example in the Old Testament to posterity. Everyone must be worthy, and no temptation should shake the power of true faith in the One God.
Abraham's Sacrifice: A Story of Unlimited Faith
Abraham immeasurably loved his son and raised him in obedience and humility. When Isaac was thirteen, the Lord spoke again to Abraham. He ordered him to take his only son, servants, water, firewood and go up the mountain to make a sacrifice for the glory of God. Despite the enormity of what was said, Abraham did not hesitate, he collected everything that was necessary, and set off on his journey.
Three days later, they came to the place where the sacrifice of Abraham was to be performed. He left the servants at the foot of the mountain and went up the hill with his son. Sadness filled Abraham's heart, but he believed his God and did not even think to challenge his will. On the way, Isaac asked his father several times, where is the sacrificial lamb, whom they will burn on the slope. Therefore, Abraham had to tell his son the truth. It is noteworthy that such a revelation did not force Isaac to flee. He dutifully walked with his father, trusting his father and his Lord.
When he reached the right place, Abraham spread out the brushwood, tied his son up, began to pray and already brought a knife over Isaac’s neck, as the angel stopped the sacrifice. He turned from heaven to father and son and forbade him to harm Isaac, repeating that the chosen people would come from this lad.
After that, the Lord promised the whole family of Abraham a blessing and a large number of descendants. Thus, the failed sacrifice of Abraham was the root cause of the salvation of mankind. Thanks to unlimited faith, people received the Savior from the clan of Isaac and Abraham.
How real are the events described in the Bible?
To modern people, human sacrifices seem extremely monstrous. But in the days of the Old Testament, this was considered a routine matter. Especially often innocent souls were sacrificed - children. After all, they were the most precious gift.
Therefore, there is nothing unusual in the description of the sacrifice. In addition, the mountain where Abraham made the sacrifice of a ram instead of his son actually exists. Subsequently, it was called Moriah and for a long time remained deserted, but later the Temple of Jerusalem was built on it. He was erected in honor of the Lord by the famous king Solomon, whom the angel brought to the mountain and ordered to build a sanctuary, where the services of the One God will be held.
The meaning of the legend of the sacrifice of Abraham
Many theologians see in the parable the background of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The story of Abraham and Isaac became a prototype of the future scenario of the salvation of mankind. After all, the Lord also presented the people with his son, who, knowing about his fate, did not doubt and did not abandon his mission. He loved his father and people so much that he gave his life in the name of the common good and immortality.
In this sense, the sacrifice of Abraham is also considered in other religions. But there is another meaning of this story - God is ready to give a person all the promised, regardless of the timing of fulfillment. Only he knows when the right moment will come, but he will definitely be the most successful. But is a person ready to sacrifice everything for the mercy of God? Everyone should ask this question for himself.
Modern man is quite far from everything that is described in the Old Testament. We live in a world with its hustle and bustle. But sometimes it’s worth picking up the Bible and carefully re-reading the story of Isaac and Abraham. Perhaps you will discover a new meaning of long-familiar phrases. After all, God is merciful, and he leads everyone to salvation in his own way ...