Genesis 22:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, the righteous man did not entertain such thoughts; instead, like a devoted steward, he set aside all human reasoning and focused solely on obeying the command. He became as one detached from human nature, placing all compassion and paternal love beneath the divine orders, and swiftly moved to execute them. ‘Abraham,’ the Scriptures declare, ‘rose up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took with him two of his young men and Isaac his son; chopped wood for a burnt offering, and rising up, went to the place of which God had told him.

However, since He was not perceived by all, particularly by the wicked Jews who focused solely on His human form, He was seen merely as an ordinary man. The understanding of Him mirrored the knowledge of Him. The small is sought in the humble, while the great is recognized in the majestic. Thus, the prophets declare Him to be “a fearful God... to all those around Him” (Psalm 88:8), that is, over all who are close to Him and possess great insight. Paul also expresses anguish for some, “until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19), referring to the profound and extraordinary images of His divinity being imprinted on their souls. The esteemed Abraham is truly deserving of our awe and highest adoration, revealing the depths of divine wisdom. Though God, the Omniscient, already knew the outcome, Abraham was tested. For God asks, “Who is this that darkeneth Providence with words without sense?” (Job 38:2). And again through Isaiah: “I am God, and there is no other God, and there is none like Me. I proclaim from the beginning what will be at the end, and from ancient times what has not yet been done” (Isaiah 46:9-10). Therefore, it is utterly illogical to suggest that the God of all did not foresee the future and consequently tested Abraham. It was essential that the patriarch’s understanding wasn’t solely illuminated by divine knowledge but that it radiated with profound glory, validated through his experiences and challenges. Scripture needed to reveal both the magnitude of his obedience and the significance of the divine commands, which surpass all else. His zeal and readiness reached a level where he disregarded even the intense love for his son and the burden of guilt associated with child sacrifice. Surprisingly, he anticipated that this son would become the father of many nations. He understood that God could not lie concerning this. Thus, he prepared to offer his child, fully aware of the promise, entrusting the fulfillment of that promise to the Lord, as He knows. Though he walked through distressful experiences towards this end, it was not in vain. From his trials, he learned of the miraculous resurrection, an astounding revelation, and the honorable mystery of the Incarnation of the Only Begotten. As Paul states: “By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac, and having the promise, offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac shall your seed be called.’ For he concluded that God was also able to raise the dead; from which he received him in a figurative sense” (Hebrews 11:17-19). It was God and the Father’s purpose to unveil Him as the root and foundation for countless nations, for Immanuel sacrificed Himself for the world; through this testing, the righteous man was imparted with an extraordinary and ineffable love from God the Father toward us: “He who did not spare His own Son” (Romans 8:32), thus justifying us by faith and counting us among the descendants of Abraham. If viewed from a human perspective, it would seem that the blessed Abraham found the divine directive to sacrifice Isaac unbearable; one can only imagine the turmoil he felt upon receiving such a command. As an elderly man who had been blessed with an only son later in life, one who had no hope of further progeny, and who with Sarah had shared this miracle of birth in their old age, he was now commanded to slay his cherished son without hesitation. How could he bring himself to raise the knife against his beloved child? One could surmise that numerous distressing thoughts troubled the soul of this righteous man. His natural affections tugged at him, yet divine revelation called him to a faith that transcended such instincts. Hence, the righteous man is indeed worthy of awe, and his devotion to God merits all praise. He verbally committed to this sacrifice, defying the laws of nature, overcoming the urges of inevitable love, and placing nothing temporal above his devotion to God. Thus, he was exalted and honored as the friend of God, and what he had hoped for was fulfilled beyond measure: he became the father of many nations in Christ, through whom and with whom all glory ascends to God the Father, alongside the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Upon receiving the command, he redirected his gaze to God’s love, dismissing earthly concerns. Casting off all emotional burdens, he completely submitted to the divine will and set about to obey without even informing his wife. It was prudent of him to refrain from sharing this with her, as he did not see her as reliable for counsel, knowing how it had not served Adam well when he took Eve’s advice. To spare Sarah the turmoil of feminine and maternal instincts, and to preserve the pure and powerful love for God within himself, he chose to keep this from her. If Sarah had known of these events, she would most likely have reacted strongly against it. What pain would she have felt, throwing herself upon her son and embracing him, if she had seen him being led away to sacrifice? What would her words have been?! "Show mercy to our nature, dear husband! Do not let a troubling tale arise to the world! He is my only son, my beloved Isaac, the sole joy in my arms. He is my beginning and my end. Who else will share our meals? Who will bring my heart that sweet voice? Who will call me mother? Who will care for me in my old age? Who will lay me to rest when my time comes? Who will erect a marker over my grave? Do you see this youthful beauty? Even an enemy would feel compassion for it. He is the fruit of fervent prayer, the continuation of our lineage, the final hope of our family, the foundation of my old age. If you must draw a knife against him, then let me be the first to face it; use it on me before my son, let our bodies share the same grave, let our sorrows be inscribed on a common headstone. Let not my eyes witness the scene of you sacrificing your son, nor the sight of Isaac meeting his end at your hands." Such were the thoughts and words with which Sarah would have confronted Abraham had she known what was planned. Yet, to avoid anything from derailing the divine purpose, Abraham loaded the wood onto a donkey, took with him a few servants, and devoted himself wholly to the will of God.

What thoughts must have crossed your mind upon hearing this account? Fathers among you, who instinctively understand the deep love for one’s children, how could you not resonate with this story? You are all too aware of how a father would react to the command to sacrifice his only son. Who would not be appalled by such a directive? Who among us wouldn’t instinctively turn away or wish to die rather than comply with such a request? Wouldn’t we all feel compelled to argue in defense of our natural instincts? Perhaps you would cry out, “Why, O Lord, have you demanded this of me? What purpose does this devastating command serve? Did you gift me with fatherhood only to have me become a murderer? Was I to cherish this precious blessing only to face such a paradox? Must I take the life of the boy I love? Must I, with my own hands, turn into a slayer of my own child? Do you find pleasure in such sacrifices? Am I to slaughter my most cherished son, who I thought would sustain me in my old age? Am I to prepare him not for a joyous marriage, but for a funeral pyre? Shall I deceive myself into thinking I can bear such a burden? Will I not become the father of nations, bereft of even one son?" Yet the righteous man did not voice any of these sentiments; rather, he intensified his devotion, sharpening his resolve beyond all earthly ties, and severing his natural inclinations. With a heart fully surrendered, he embraced the command.

He concealed his intentions from Sarah for his own benefit, understanding that including her in such a grave decision might weaken his resolve. He recalled that Adam's acceptance of Eve's counsel had brought him harm. Abraham sought to protect Sarah from any emotional turmoil that might diminish his unwavering love for God. How could Sarah have restrained her cries, grieving over her son? She would surely have clung to him, desperate to protect him from harm, crying out, “Please, spare him! Do not bring shame upon us. My beloved son, my only one, brought forth from my barrenness—do not destroy what little hope we have! He is the promise of our future! In your mercifulness, do not take away our joy. Who will we lean on in our old age? Who will honor our memory? Who will carry on our legacy? Look at our son’s beauty and youth; how could you bring harm to the one who is our hope?” Such deep anguish would have surely overwhelmed her had she known of Abraham’s intentions. Therefore, he chose to keep his silence, ensuring nothing would interfere with the sacred task ahead.

And they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, which they burnt to the statues of Canaan’ (Psalms 105:37-38). Likewise, through Ezekiel, He declares: “And thou hast taken thy sons, and thy daughters, which thou hast borne, and hast brought them unto thy fathers”; and then emphasizes the severity of their transgressions by stating: ‘more than all thy fornication’ (Ezekiel 16:20, 22). Consequently, the one who condemns those who commit such acts would not have permitted the offering of His only-begotten Son by a father. This event serves as a foreshadowing of the ultimate divine plan; for in the grand scheme, the Father offered His beloved Son for the sake of the world. Isaac symbolizes the divine nature, while the Ram represents humanity; and in both instances, the duration of three days and three nights remains the same.

However, he might have wrestled with the certainty of God's promises regarding a multitude of descendants through Isaac; it could have appeared inconceivable to him that these divine assurances could be realized if Isaac were to perish without offspring. This presented a significant challenge not only to Abraham's faith but also to his paternal affection. The depth of his love for Isaac rendered the divine command to relinquish him all the more burdensome. The act of laying his hand upon Isaac was fraught with emotional agony. Yet, Abraham's internal turmoil was fleeting; his faith and devotion to God ultimately overcame the trial. Illuminated by the prospect of Isaac's resurrection, as affirmed by the apostle (Romans 4:17; Hebrews 11:19), Abraham reasoned that God possessed the power to revive Isaac, that the loss incurred was not beyond redemption, and that the Almighty, who had miraculously granted life to Isaac, could equally miraculously restore it in order to fulfill His promises.

It seems that Abraham did not reveal to Sarah both God's command and his intention to obey, as he sought to shield her from distress, rightly apprehensive that she might lack the resolute spirit that he himself possessed. Preparing for his journey, Abraham "saddled his donkey," which he would ride, and "brought with him two young men," likely to assist in carrying the wood for the burnt offering. Anticipating difficulties in sourcing dry wood at the sacrificial site, he ensured he had provisions of split wood from home. Arriving at the location where God had spoken to him, Abraham followed God's leading northward, despite not knowing his ultimate destination during the trip. After three days of travel, which began in Beersheba—a place known for its covenants, where Abraham had resided after the destruction of Sodom—he was to reach Mount Moriah, the site of the intended burnt offering and later the location of Solomon's temple. The journey only required around 20 hours, but Abraham's passage was prolonged, either by the Lord's guidance along a less direct route or due to the burdensome load of firewood and provisions.