Tell me what you think.
 

I already have some idea about what I think, but I am interested in your opinion as well.

In Genesis 22, we have the story of Abraham offering Isaac. Two things stick out in my mind from this story; that the scripture says "God did tempt Abraham", and that after the angel of the Lord kept Isaac alive, he said "for now I know".

Tell me how you view these two statements, please.

IN GENESIS 22.The word tempt in Hebrew means to prove.

So, did God have to prove what He in His omniscience already knew?

God chooses to live in the now realm with us, He is able to see eternity, but our walk of faith has the daily unsureness that we feel, and it's up to us to trust and obey, and submit our will to his.

If He dictated our affairs according to what he knew, we would not have a true free will because our predestined preordained ending would keep him from experiancing our love and devotion that is fresh from our heart.

His choosing to abide with us in our timeframe makes Him more real.

Also prove means to examine ,perhaps God wanted see what ole Abe was made of ?

God didn't prove it to Himself. He proved it to Abraham, because Abraham didn't already know. :nod

But the wording says "now I know", not "now Abraham knows".

Bro. Scott, look at the word "now" in that same verse.

God's Tempting of Abraham
 

I believe that God's established guiding principle of "righteousness" (see Psalms 89:14 & 97:2) demanded that He "tempt" Abraham. As someone has already noted, the word "tempt" literally implies/means to "prove." We find many instances within the context of the Bible wherein it is explicitly stated that God undertakes an act for the purpose of proving, trying, or testing the manner in which both mortal humans, as well as angelic beings, are subjected to a "testing" of His right of rulership over them.

In the garden of Eden, God "tempted" (that is to say, sought to test/try/prove) Adam's willingness to have God exercise rulership over him. We also find that chief among the reasons why the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years was for the purpose of "trying" them.

James was inspired of God to write and inform us that "The trying of your faith worketh patience." (James 1:3) Peter also wrote to tell us: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:..." (I Peter 4:12)

These things only "scratch the surface" of the many things which could be written on this issue. I hope that the few that I have noted might be helpful in some small way.

Sort of an anthropomorphism? Perhaps it was more for Abrahams benefit and his posterity.

I noticed Abraham did not complain or question God..

The scripture does not say the God gave men any "true free will", everyone is significantly programed by heritage, time and place in history, generic makeup and temperament. All of these things are determined by God, therefore much of who we are is preordained, then within these perimeters we have choice. So our freewill is very limited within God ordained boundaries.

God was dealing with Abraham in the context of his culture to show him a truth, that He does not accept human sacrifice. Human sacrifice was not uncommon in Abraham's pagan roots. Abraham did not argue with God about it because he was familiar with the practice. Abraham was walking by faith with God, learning as he walked.

This may sound a little out there to some. But I have always believed that this had more to do with Abraham essentially sacrificing Ishmael in Gen 21 by sending him into the wilderness. Ishmael was about to die and God saved him.

Gen 21:
[15] And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
[16] And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
[17] And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
[18] Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
[19] And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.


Isaac was about to die and God saved him.
Gen 22:
10] And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.


This possibly had some ritual meaning with God.
God saved Ishmael with water.
God saved Isaac with blood.


God had already told Abraham that with Ishmael he would make a nation.Before he sent him into the wilderness to die

God had already told Abraham that with Isacc he would make a nation.Before he told Abraham to sacrifice him.

As for the Angel of the Lord saying “for now I know”. With the Hebrew words for “for” and “now” the angel could have been saying several different things.

According to strong's one of the definitions is to know by experience.

I agree with your take on the Strong's definition. Just not sure why you are applying the "knowing" to Abraham, instead of God.

I had moved past the comparison and was just providing helpful information :)

Sorry ChTatum, seems i almost killed your thread LOL.:sad