ABRAHAM AND ISAAC–THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Every year, Muslims celebrate the feast of Aid al Adha (the feast of sacrifice). According to Muslims, Abraham received a vision to sacrifice Ishmael, “the righteous son” he had with the slave woman. According to Quran, Abraham asked the son what to do which Ishmael replied,” O my father! Do as thou art commanded.” Satan tested Abraham to ignore God’s command but with the help of angel Gabriel, Abraham forced Satan away by pelting him with stones. Muslims reenact this incident during the Hajj pilgrimage by pelting the three pillars mark where Satan was standing during an encounter with Abraham.

The Bible has a totally different story. And the story of the Bible has a totally different meaning. The Bible says in Genesis 22:1-2 Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham! ” Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

The Bible declares first, it was Isaac, not Ishmael who was to be sacrificed. It is without a doubt that Ishmael was son of Abraham by a slave woman, Hagar. God had declared to Abraham that His promise, that He would make Abraham father of the great nation was not on Ishmael but the one who was to be borne by Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Isaac was later born. When the Isaac, the child of promise was born, Hagar and her son were sent away.
The Bible again says, “your only son.” This statement means that Isaac was the only legitimate son of Abraham. Ishmael was an illegitimate child. Abraham loved Isaac more than the other sons he had with other women. He gave them gifts and send them away from his son.

The Bible does not entail the story of Abraham asking Isaac what to do, instead, it records Isaac asking where was the lamb which Abraham answers,” God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Again, there is no record of Abraham’s encounter with Satan. When they reached the place which God told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven telling him not to lay his hand on Isaac. God provided a ram that was sacrificed. It was a test of Abraham’s faith in God. It could be said that Abraham loved God so much that he was willing to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved.

Now, what was the significance of this? What does it mean? Like all other parts of scripture, it must be talking of Christ. Abraham’s love for God even to point of willing to offer his only son as a sacrifice is a picture of God himself, who so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16. Mankind, all children of Adam, have broken God’s Holy Law. They have done what they should not do and they have not done what they should do. We have not been merciful and loving as we should be. We have broken the law of God. For God is just, it follows that man must get punished for his sins. It is eternal punishment in Hell. We are by nature children of wrath. We first learn evil before we learn what is right. Sin is the very nature of children of Adam. There is none righteous, no one is good, no one that seeks after God. (Romans 3:10-12)

But by God’s mercy and love, He send His only begotten son to die for our sins. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Christ, who was in the beginning with the Father, who all things were made by Him and through Him and who without Him nothing was made that was made, came down here on earth, born by virgin Mary, lived a very difficult life, tempted in every way and yet was without sin (John 3:16, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-20). He kept the whole Law, which we could not keep. After 33 years, he was condemned, dying on the cross. It pleased God to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10). It was not for His sins but for ours. God made Him who was without sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He died on the cross and was buried and he rose again from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25). Those who believe in Him, are justified, sanctified and washed from all sin. They have everlasting life (John 10:28). Those who have not believed in Him, are condemned already (John 3:18). Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Sadly, Muslims not only believe in deceptive writing thus missing the truth but also significance of it. Consider praying for muslims that God may open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel.