There are a lot of possible responses to the story. You know the one: Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22—where Abraham is tested.
God tells him to go up to Moriah and sacrifice his only son, Isaac—the same son God promised this childless couple ages ago. The same God who promised Abraham’s descendants would number the stars.
And now he’s supposed to prove himself by killing his long-awaited son?
What are we to make of this story? It makes no sense.
I mean, line up your objections:
Where’s God’s compassion? This could scar the poor child for life.
Where is His grace? This could scar Abraham and cause him to reject God.
Where is His all-knowing? Shouldn’t he already know Abraham’s heart and loyalty? Why the test?
A knife and a fire? No thanks. I’m not telling my kids this story.
How do we teach the stories we don’t fully understand?
Well, hold onto your hat, Mama, because it gets worse. And better.
That same mountain is the one where the other gods demanded sacrifices from their followers.
Need rain? Sacrifice your son.
Need the sunshine? Sacrifice your daughter.
Want a good crop this year? Sacrifice your twins.
God’s request wouldn’t have sounded out-of-the-ordinary. Every god was doing it.
Here’s Where Abraham and Isaac’s God Stands Apart
Could you imagine the response from anyone who heard the Voice say, “Stop, Abraham! I know your heart. Don’t hurt him!”
If it wasn’t heard firsthand, you can bet that story spread.
“Abraham’s God said what?”
The storyteller repeats.
“You mean there’s a god who doesn’t demand we kill our children?”
“And who gives us sunshine and rain anyway?”
“And who looks at and cares about our hearts?”
*A thoughtful pause.
“I want that God.”
I mean, it’s incredible.
Brilliant.
When God said He’d bring people to Himself through Abraham, He wasn’t kidding.
Because guess what? Here’s a guy that’ll do the stuff. Abraham didn’t forsake his God. He trusted Him completely. And Isaac followed suit.
And we know this if we read the rest of the stories of Abraham and Isaac. They held great faith. And they flourished.
They lived epic, story-worthy lives, and we get to read them.
So, don’t be afraid to tell that one, Mama. The soil in that one is rich. You can cultivate their seeds of faith there without worry.
Abraham Story Cards: For Kids and Us
My daughter loves to sing. Especially hymns. This week it’s Father Abraham. You know the one: Father Abraham had many sons; many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them, and so are you. So, let’s all praise the Lord (right hand, left hand). Abraham’s a big deal. And there are many stories of his life. The way I count, I get 21. Evan as an adult and seminary grad I can’t keep them all straight or remember their order.
So guess what? I’ve been working on a printable download to put that problem to bed. And yes, this works for my second grader as well as my grown self.
As you read through each Abraham story in Genesis, fill in the corresponding story card with pictures, words, and/or symbols detailing the story in a way you’ll remember it fully.
Then cut out the cards, shuffle, and lay in order. Retell them, if you wish. You can quiz yourself or play along with your kids. You can use them to make a homemade timeline on your wall.
This is not a superficial exercise. This is deep thoughtfulness as you insert yourself into the story, discuss interactive reading prompts, and design each card in a meaningful way. You will not soon forget the stories or the nuggets you find.
Warning:
I will warn you. If you haven’t read all the Abraham stories, there are some sexual sins in there. Depending on the age of your children, you may read ahead and paraphrase to them or tell in a way that sidesteps those details but gets the point across.
For example, I told my daughter that Abraham pretended to be Sarah’s sister (he sort of was, but also her wife). He was afraid she was so beautiful the king would kill him so he could have her all to himself. I didn’t have to mention anything about sex.
It also makes a great talking point: Leaving out information to mislead someone is still a lie.
Or you may choose to skip those parts altogether.
This download covers a lot of ground—all 21 stories of Abraham’s life. And it won’t be FREE forever.
Enjoy!
