Abraham’s covenant with God is a very important part of Genesis and an analysis of it can help the reader understand the significance of Abraham’s actions. First, Abraham agrees to the request made of him by God because he sees the future benefits that the covenant will have. Although it was a risky choice to leave his homeland and practically start a new life, by following God’s request Abraham showed that he was an obedient person who looked for the betterment of everyone rather than just himself. Abraham put his trust into God’s hands and shows that he wants to give to God rather than selfishly take from God.
In Chapter 22 of Genesis, Abraham is on the verge of sacrificing his son Isaac to God, as God has requested. In Genesis 22:5, tells his men that he is going to go worship God with his son Isaac. This is not necessarily entirely true but it is also not a complete lie; Abraham believes that he is worshipping God by sacrificing Isaac, as God has asked. However, it is somewhat of a lie as he states that both he and Isaac will return, but had Isaac been killed, he obviously would not have returned. Similarly in Genesis 22:8, Isaac is concerned about the lack of a lamb to sacrifice and Abraham shares with him that God will select the lamb for the offering. In this situation, Abraham believes that Isaac has been chosen by God as the lamb, rather than a literal lamb. In these two lines of Genesis, Abraham is not necessarily lying, but rather he is being somewhat untruthful in the exact outcomes of what is to happen.
By making Abraham go through with this ordeal, God is intending on giving Abraham great rewards for all his people after Abraham praises and listens to him. In this context, Abraham is praiseworthy for putting his faith in God even if it meant sacrificing his own son. By nearly killing his own son, Abraham demonstrates that he will do practically anything to be a faithful servant to God, which is certainly praiseworthy behavior. God is also praiseworthy for following through with the promise of giving his blessings to Abraham and his people, while demonstrating his ability to intervene in the world.
Tommy Gallagher Blog 
I agree with a lot of your analysis, but am wondering if you find God’s behavior related to Abraham’s almost-sacrifice of Isaac praiseworthy. While Abraham was attempting to promote good, God set up that test knowing that it would involve dishonesty. (While this language is certainly strong:) is so carelessly manipulating people to test their loyalty truly praiseworthy if it has the potential to turn them against each other?
LikeLike
I agree with you that Abraham wasn’t completely lying in Genesis 22:5 and 22:8. However, I don’t think Abraham’s main motivation for going through with the sacrifice was him knowing he would receive benefits in the future. I believe it was more of him respecting God and knowing all of what he was capable of. Him sacrificing his son because he thought he would earn things thorough it would make him extremely selfish.
LikeLike
I thought that your answer was very well-thought out and easy to follow. I really enjoyed reading your ideas in your last paragraph, regarding how both Abraham and God were both praiseworthy in this situation. I can definitely see where your coming from, but I have also looked at the situation from a more negative perspective. I questioned where Abraham actions would be considered praiseworthy, especially given the emphasis of community and our attachment to other human beings that we have discussed in previous classes. Have you considered how Abraham’s actions may be looked down upon, given that they require him to harm another person in order to preserve himself in the face of God? Just a different perspective to consider:)
LikeLike
When I read Genesis 22, I thought the same thing as you wrote about having mixed feelings on the idea of Abraham lying to Issac and his young men in regard to intentions. The thing is I disagree with is the fact that Abraham is sacrificing his son, Issac, in order to worship God since I feel that Abraham sacrificed Issac in order to be obedient to God. Could you help me get to how you arrived at that?
LikeLike
I agree that Abraham stating that he and Abraham were going to worship god was not a complete lie, but the statement of which he and Issac would return was false in his mind. He told Abraham that the sacrificial goat would be provided. My question of the whole situation is that if God asked Abraham to sacrifice himself, would he still have this full, blind loyalty?
LikeLike