Why did Yahweh test Abraham?

Why did Yahweh test Abraham?

Why would Yahweh ask Abraham to slaughter his only son Isaac, with whom He would have established His eternal covenant?

Yahweh made an everlasting covenant with Abraham

Genesis 17

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“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

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I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Yahweh promised a son to Abraham

Genesis 12

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Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.”

So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 15

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Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

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And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”

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Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Yahweh promised Abraham that He will establish His everlasting covenant with his son Isaac

Genesis 17

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But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac.I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

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But I will establish My covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.”

Yahweh tested Abraham by asking him to offer a burnt offering of his only son Isaac whom he loved and with whom Yahweh would have established His everlasting covenant

Genesis 22

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“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Abraham obeyed Yahweh

Genesis 22

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He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.

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On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

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Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac.

When Isaac asked his father Abraham about the lamb for the burnt offering, Abraham said that Yahweh will see—He will provide.

Genesis 22

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Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”

“Here I am, my son,” he replied.

“The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

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Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” 

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When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood.

He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.

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Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

Yahweh swore an oath with Abraham that through his offspring Isaac, all nations of the earth will be blessed because he obeyed Him and did not withhold his only son from Him

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“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.”

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saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son,

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And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,because you have obeyed My voice.”

Abraham offered a ram in place of his son and called the place Yahweh-yireh—Yahweh will see, Yahweh will provide

Genesis 22

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So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

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And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

It is imperative to note that Abraham would not have known that a ram would be provided in place of his son Isaac when Isaac asked him about the lamb for the burnt offering. He committed himself to obey Yahweh to slaughter his son Isaac for the burnt offering until the angel of the LORD intervened.

In Hebrew, Yahweh-yireh means Yahweh sees i.e. Yahweh will see to it, Yahweh will provide. Therefore, it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it shall be seen.”

Yahweh tested Abraham because the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh—the Anointed One's life would be made a guilt offering to save the world

Read: Predestination is an Illusion

Isaiah 53

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Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

Isaiah 2

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In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains;

it will be raised above the hills,

and all nations will stream to it.

Ezekiel 40

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In visions of God He took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain 

Zechariah 8

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This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”