I am not any Biblical scholar, nor do I know Quran. But this is a well-known challenge to the Judaism and Christianity. According to Genesis 22, God tested Abraham and commanded him to offer Isaac, his only and beloved son, as a holocaust. Isaac was his only son because previously, Abraham had followed Sarah's demand to drive Ishmael away.
After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Genesis 22:1-2)
Ishmael was the ancestor of Arabians who practise Islam. They also honour Abraham (Ibrahim) as a prophet. In Quran, there is also a story of Abraham intending to sacrifice his son. However, the name of the son is not explicitly spelled out. Then most of the commentaries point at Ishmael rather than Isaac. The following is a translation quoted from The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement.
(Abraham prayed:) My Lord, grant me a doer of good deeds.
So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
But when he became of age to work with him, he said: O my son, I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; so consider what is your view. He said: O my father, do as you are commanded; if Allah please you will find me patient.
So when they had both submitted and he had thrown him down upon his forehead,
and We called out to him saying,
O Abraham, you have indeed fulfilled the vision. Thus do We reward the doers of good.
Surely this is a manifest trial.
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (37:100–107).
There is no doubt about the identity of this son in Quran. He was Ishmael. Further below, Isaac appeared.
And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous (37:112).
Of course, one may also argue that this good news is one and the same as the one in 37:108 above. But I am not familiar with the style of Quran. I don't know if this kind of inclusivo is also a style in Quran. If it is, there was only one son involved in the story and he was Isaac. I have no intention to get involved in this debate. I am not qualified to do so. Rather, let me contemplate the psychology of Abraham.
Abraham had been a friend of God. As from Genesis 12, he had been walking with God for nearly 38 years. At 75, God called Abram to uproot from his kindred in Haran and promised to make of him a great nation (Genesis 12:1-2). He journeyed south and entered Egypt. God afflicted Pharaoh and his house because of Sarai. Abram left Egypt richer (Genesis 12:16-20). When Abram parted company from his nephew Lot, God promised him children and land (Genesis 13:14-17). When Abram went into battle to save his nephew Lot, God fought for him to defeat an alliance of 4 chieftains with only 318 men (Genesis 14:14).
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." (Genesis 15:1) Ever since, God had protected Abram and showered him with a lot of riches. This God was trustworthy. And how did they spend their spare time together? Counting stars in the evening.
And he (God) brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:5-6).
St. Paul focuses on the faith of Abraham and takes this as the basis of justification. Now, God saw that Abram's faith was mature enough to enter into a covenant with Him. He established the first covenant with Abram (Genesis 15:18-21). Then came the story of Ishmael who was born to Abram when he was 86. Thirteen years later, when Abram was 99, God renewed His covenant and renamed Abram Abraham. Circumcision was institutionalized (Genesis 17). There followed the Bargain Story between God and Abraham (Genesis 18). Not only was his faith strengthened but also his standing. Abraham was on negotiating terms with God, to bargain on behalf of sinners. For the first time, he became a mediator between God and sinners. He was fulfilling his role as a source of blessing promised previously by God (Genesis 12:2-3). Though Genesis does not mention, I am sure Abraham was able to see from his tent with his own eyes how God destroyed the two cities. This God was awesome and to be feared.
The real test of his faith came 8 years later when his son Isaac was seven years old. Abraham was able to negotiate for sinners in Sodom. But this time, it was a non-negotiable command. Abraham had no choice. Did Abraham entertain any hope of resurrection like the author of the Hebrews?
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,
of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named."
He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back (Hebrews 11:17-19).
I doubt. The author of Hebrews belongs to the era of the New Testament. He believed in the resurrection of Jesus. But did the people in the Old Testament have the concept of resurrection? Had they had, the apostles would not have so much difficulties in accepting the resurrection of Jesus when he told them the imminent passion. I am afraid the author of Hebrews has read his own belief into the mouth of Abraham, has projected his own New Testament theology back to the people in the Old Testament.
Moreover, many passages in the Psalm show that death was the end of everything. There was no hope in resurrection. For example,
"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise thee? Will it tell of thy faithfulness? (Psalm 30:9)
What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? [Selah] (Psalm 89:48)
The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence (Psalm 115:17).
Of course, there are also verses in which the author was confident that God would deliver his soul from death. For example,
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, yea, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life (Psalm 56:13).
Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling (Psalm 116:7-8);
But here, the death might not be literal. Once again, the concept of resurrection in the Old Testament is a project worth pursuing.
Back to Abraham. He was experiencing an extremely difficult situation. His faith and thus his previous relation with God were undergoing an extreme test. He had enjoyed God's protection and riches. He had also witnessed His awesome power. Now, this God turned back to extract payment of His previous services! Wasn't it terrifying? Resurrection was unknown to Abraham. Had Abraham cherished any hope of resurrection, this test would not have been any test at all. If Abraham had known that God would raise Isaac from the death, it would not have been such a big deal to offer up Isaac in a holocaust. No. Abraham did not have the faintest idea of resurrection.
As I have argued earlier, sufferings breed maturity. In this test, Isaac demonstrated his intelligence and obedience.
And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together (Genesis 22:7-8).
What a smart kid! It aches one's heart to read of his forthcoming demise. What is more, he obeyed without putting up any struggle. Isaac was a pre-figure of the obedient Jesus!
What a man of deep faith! Abraham had not known how strong his faith was. This test provided an opportunity for him to know and to demonstrate how deep his faith could be. All of us need tests to know ourselves better.
My God and my Lord, my faith is unknown. But there is one thing I am sure. You will give us enough grace to go through any tests. I rely on You. Amen.
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