“God Will Provide Himself a Lamb”

**Scripture references have been highlighted in red and hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window. Resource quotes have been highlighted in blue.  All References and videos have been hyperlinked at the end of the blog.  Just click and it will take you there.

How would you feel if God asked you to give up, or sacrifice one of your children, or if you don't have any children, someone you love deeply.  Would you do it?  Would you listen to the command of God?  Would you follow, though you don't understand?  Would question the command or motives of God?  Would you let the one thing you love so much, be given back to God if he so directed, though the pain of doing so be unbearable?  

Click the following Video for one of the most obedient, heartfelt story of love for God that you will ever see. 

God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son, whom he loved more than anything. For a moment put yourself in Abrahams place.  Imagine the shock and confusion he must have felt at the request, imagine his willingness to obey, and the pain he felt with what he would have to do to be obedient.  Abraham knew that Jehovah was real, he had no questions or thoughts of doubt; he knew and followed the gospel of Jesus Christ and he knew the implications of not doing so fully.  So with great anxiety, because of his perfect faith, he followed and took his son Isaac to sacrifice. Because he followed God knew, like we are so taught, though Abraham loved his son more than anything, he loved God first.  Therefore, in the end, he was not required to actually make the sacrifice but his willingness to do so “accounted unto him for righteousness” (D&C 132:36)

Because of Abrahams righteousness, he and his descendants were greatly blessed, and because of the command to sacrifice Isaac, and Abrahams wiliness to follow, we are more fully taught about Heavenly Father's sacrifice in offering up his son.   

1. Abraham is nearly sacrificed by the false priests of Pharaoh Abraham 1:1, 5–20

Part of our lesson in this historical event focuses on God's command that Abraham sacrifice Isaac, and it is through this that we gain an understanding of the significance of the command and depth of Abraham's faith.  To do that properly we should take a look at some of his life experiences so that we can more fully see just how hard this was for him.  

As a young man, Abraham lived in Ur of Chaldea, the living conditions there were wicked, and the city was set upon sin continually.  Idols were the popular form of worship and unfortunately Abraham's father followed suit living in sin rather than hearken to the gospel.  Abraham 1:1, 5–8  

5 My fathers, having turned from their righteousness, and from the holy commandments which the Lord their God had given unto them, unto the worshiping of the gods of the heathen, utterly refused to hearken to my voice;

6 For their hearts were set to do evil, and were wholly turned to the god of Elkenah, and the god of Libnah, and the god of Mahmackrah, and the god of Korash, and the god of Pharaoh, king of Egypt;

As part of this worship, it was common place for the priests to offer up human sacrifice, and because his father followed in this worship he also followed in the rituals and they sought to take Abraham as a sacrifice to the dumb idols.  

7 Therefore they turned their hearts to the sacrifice of the heathen in offering up their children unto these dumb idols, and hearkened not unto my voice, but endeavored to take away my life by the hand of the priest of Elkenah. The priest of Elkenah was also the priest of Pharaoh.

8 Now, at this time it was the custom of the priest of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to offer up upon the altar which was built in the land of Chaldea, for the offering unto these strange gods, men, women, and children.

Abraham tells us that they actually laid violence upon him and gives us detail in the process and even the altars that were used.  Abraham 1:7, 12

12 And it came to pass that the priests laid violence upon me, that they might slay me also, as they did those virgins upon this altar; and that you may have a knowledge of this altar, I will refer you to the representation at the commencement of this record.

We also know that he was saved and his life was spared, how did this happen?  Abraham called upon the Lord and an angel loosed the bands with which he was tied Abraham 1:15-16

15 And as they lifted up their hands upon me, that they might offer me up and take away my life, behold, I lifted up my voice unto the Lord my God, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and he filled me with the vision of the Almighty, and the angel of his presence stood by me, and immediately unloosed my bands;

16 And his voice was unto me: Abraham, Abraham, behold, my name is Jehovah, and I have heard thee, and have come down to deliver thee, and to take thee away from thy father’s house, and from all thy kinsfolk, into a strange land which thou knowest not of;

The Lord broke down the altar of Elkenah and smote the priest (Abraham 1:20)

20 Behold, Potiphar’s Hill was in the land of Ur, of Chaldea. And the Lord broke down the altar of Elkenah, and of the gods of the land, and utterly destroyed them, and smote the priest that he died; and there was great mourning in Chaldea, and also in the court of Pharaoh; which Pharaoh signifies king by royal blood.

How might Abraham’s experience on the altar of the false priests have helped prepare him for future trials?  To call upon the Lord in such a time of distress requires great faith and exercising such great faith will strengthen and individual as it surely did to Abraham.  He was blessed for not giving in to the evil that was all around him, and even in his own family, and though they sought his life; even though his father would allow him to become a sacrifice to the worship of idols, Abraham kept the faith and called upon the Lord.  This would strengthen him so much that he would be able to follow the commands of God, whatever they be.  

But also in considering the horror of being offered up as a sacrifice Abraham with a remembrance if you will, of what it was like to be laid upon an altar about to be sacrificed;  had a clear understanding of exactly how Isaac would feel at that very moment.  How hard it must have been for Abraham to even consider putting his son through such a traumatic event; one that he himself knew of first hand.  

When you think about Abraham and his trails, how do you think our trials can help us prepare for future difficulties?  Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit."  Napoleon Hill

2. Abraham has children through Hagar and Sarah Genesis 15–17; 21

Later in his life, Abraham desires and is promised seed, he was concerned about not having any children so he took the matter to the Lord and the Lord responded promising him seed.  Genesis15:1–6

1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Sarah, in her desire to help Abraham and herself gives Hagar to Abraham as his wife; Hagar bears Ishmael 16:1–16

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

4 ¶ And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

7 ¶ And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 ¶ And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Why did Sarah give Hagar to Abraham as his wife? Genesis 16:1–3; D&C 132:34–35 

"In her old age, Sarah gave Hagar, her maid, to Abraham. Modern revelation indicates that Sarah thereby 'administered unto Abraham according to the law' (D&C 132:65), and more recent scholarship has confirmed the widespread legal obligation of the childless wife in the ancient Near East to provide her husband with a second wife." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p1260)

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

34 God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises.

35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.

When Abraham was 86 years old, Hagar bore him a son, Ishmael (Genesis 16:15-16)

15 ¶ And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

There was however, a falling out between Hagar and Sarah just before the birth of Ishmael.  Hagar fled, but was stopped by the angel of the Lord and given a promise from the Lord.

Hagar
Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ha'gar (flight), an Egyptian woman, the handmaid or slave of Sarah, Genesis 16:1; whom the latter gave as a concubine to Abraham, after he had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan and had no children by Sarah. ch Genesis 16:2, 3; (B.C. 1912.) When Hagar saw that she had conceived, "her mistress was despised in her eyes," v. 4, and Sarah, with the anger, we may suppose, of a free woman rather than of a wife, reproached Abraham for the results of her own act. Hagar fled, turning her steps toward her native land through the great wilderness traversed by the Egyptian road. By the fountain in the way to Shur the angel of the Lord found her, charged her to return and submit herself under the hands of her mistress, and delivered the remarkable prophecy respecting her unborn child recorded in vs. 10-12. On her return she gave birth to Ishmael, and Abraham was then eighty-six years old. When Ishmael was about sixteen years old, he was caught by Sarah making sport of her young son Isaac at the festival of his weaning, and Sarah demanded the expulsion of Hagar and her son. She again fled toward Egypt, and when in despair at the want of water, an angel again appeared to her, pointed out a fountain close by, and renewed the former promises to her. Genesis 21:9-21; St. Paul, Galatians 4:25; refers to her as the type of the old covenant of the law.  (Dictionary of the Bible, William Smith)

What was the promise from the Lord to Hagar? Genesis 16:10–11

10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

The descendants of Ishmael:  "The sons of Ishmael peopled the north and west of the Arabian peninsula and supposedly formed the chief element of the Arab nation, the wandering Bedouin tribes. They are now mostly Mohammedans." (Mormon Doctrine, p389)

After this God again speaks of his covenant with Abraham, promising that he will be the father of many nations Genesis 17:1–14   At this time Abraham was 99 years old and he is instructed that the birth of Isaac is whom the covenant would continue.  Genesis 17:16–22

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

How did Abraham respond? Genesis 17:17 

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Its important to note that while the King James Version of the Bible says that Abraham “laughed” when he heard that Sarah would bear a son, an alternate translation of the Hebrew word is “rejoiced.” The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible says that Abraham “rejoiced” at the news

The Joseph Smith Translation reads:  "Then Abraham fell upon his face and rejoiced, and said in his heart, There shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old, and Sarah that is ninety years old shall bear.

What can the revelation that Abraham and Sarah would have a son teach us about how God fulfills his promises?  God will fulfill his promises, though not necessarily in the way or at the time we might expect. Point out that Abraham and many others in the scriptures had to wait faithfully for many years before promised blessings were given.

3. God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac  Genesis 22

Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? Genesis 22:1

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

 Note when reading in the King James Version LDS scriptures, footnote 1a, says the word tempt in this verse means to test or prove. The Joseph Smith Translation of this verse reads:  "And it came to pass after these things, that God did try Abraham..."

President George Q. Cannon:  "Here comes the command of God to this man [Abraham] who has been taught so scrupulously about the sinfulness of murder and human sacrifice, to do these very things. Now, why did the Lord ask such things of Abraham? Because, knowing what his future would be and that he would be the father of an innumerable posterity, he was determined to test him. God did not do this for His own sake; for He knew by His foreknowledge what Abraham would do [Abr. 1:22-23] ; but the purpose was to impress upon Abraham a lesson, and to enable him to attain unto knowledge that he could not obtain in any other way. That is why God tries all of us. It is not for His own knowledge for He knows all things beforehand. He knows all your lives and everything you will do. But He tries us for our own good, that we may know ourselves, for it is most important that a man should know himself. He required Abraham to submit to this trial because he intended to give him glory, exaltation and honor; He intended to make him a king and a priest, to share with Himself the glory, power and dominion which He exercised." (Conference Report, Apr 1899)

What was Abrahams reaction?  There is no record that Abraham questioned the Lord. Abraham was a man of great faith and absolutely obedient.  Still, this was his only son with Sarah.  The Lord had promised him that through Isaac the covenant would be established, and he had been taught that it was not right to kill and offer sacrifice of another human being.  As a young man, Abraham himself had nearly been sacrificed by the false priests of Pharaoh and Jehovah had saved him so how could this thing he is being asked to do be right?   

What was Abraham's decision to the command? Genesis 22:2–3

He prepared the sacrifice...

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3 ¶ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

What can we learn from Abraham about faith and obedience? Hebrews 11:17–19; James 2:21–23.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

What about Isaac?  How did he respond? Genesis 22:3–10.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: “When they came to the prescribed place, Abraham built an altar and laid wood upon it. Then, the Bible says, ‘Abraham … bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood’ (Genesis 22:9). What did Isaac think when Abraham did such a strange thing? The Bible mentions no struggle or objection. Isaac’s silence can be explained only in terms of his trust in and obedience to his father” (Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 51; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 37)

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was a similitude of Heavenly Father’s willingness to sacrifice his Only Begotten Son Jacob 4:5; Genesis 22:8, 13

5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

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.

What are some similarities between Abraham’s experience and Heavenly Father’s?  Abraham himself was a similitude of the Father. The name Abram means "exalted father" and Abraham means "father of a great multitude."

Isaac was a type of the Son of God. One of the meanings of his name is "he shall rejoice." Isaac's birth, like the Savior, was a miraculous birth. Both were announced by angels. 

Both sacrifices were done in fairly close proximity, on the same hill, in Jerusalem. "...Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon his back" (Joseph Smith Translation Genesis 22:7). Christ carried the cross upon his back to his crucifixion. 

It would appear that Isaac willingly submitted to the appointed sacrifice, trusting in his father. Since Abraham was an old man at this time, certainly Isaac could have put up a fight if he was not agreeable. Christ willingly gave his life.

Though it seemed a tragedy at the moment, all ended well for Isaac as it did for our Savior.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks:  "This story...shows the goodness of God in protecting Isaac and in providing a substitute so he would not have to die. Because of our sins and our mortality, we, like Isaac, are condemned to death. When all other hope is gone, our Father in Heaven provides the Lamb of God, and we are saved by his sacrifice." (Ensign, Nov 1992, p37)

In what way can we be compared to Isaac? If Isaac represents us, whom does the ram in the thicket represent?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “This story … shows the goodness of God in protecting Isaac and in providing a substitute so he would not have to die. Because of our sins and our mortality, we, like Isaac, are condemned to death. When all other hope is gone, our Father in Heaven provides the Lamb of God, and we are saved by his sacrifice” ( Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 51; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 37).

How do these comparisons help you better understand Heavenly Father’s love for you in sacrificing his Son?   Record your thoughts in your journal or gospel doctrine notebook! 

 Why is Isaac referred to in Genesis 22:16 as Abraham’s only son?  Isaac was the son through whom the covenant would continue. This reference also emphasizes the parallel between Isaac and our Savior, the Only Begotten Son of the Father.

What blessings were assured to Abraham because of his faithfulness?   Genesis 22:15–18

15 ¶ And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

What blessings are we promised through the Abrahamic covenant?  What are our responsibilities as heirs of the Abrahamic covenant?  Abrahamic Covenant

President Hugh B. Brown said that God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham”  What have you learned from your trials? 

Joseph Smith:  "I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain; and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force...all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there. Thus I will become a smooth and polished shaft in the quiver of the Almighty." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p304)

The Lord revealed that we must be tried “even as Abraham”  Why do you think this is necessary?  

4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.

5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.

5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

What can we do now to prepare ourselves for sacrifices the Lord may ask us to make?  Building a strong relationship with God.  Abraham 1 and Abraham 2 describe the relationships that Abraham and his father had with God. Abraham’s father turned to God in times of trouble, but turned to idol worship when things were going well in his life (Abraham 1:5, 30; 2:5). Abraham, on the other hand, sought God continually (Abraham 1:2, 4; 2:12).

We need to seek God, making our relationship with him active rather than passive, we need to make our commitment to God more consistent, so that we seek him in times of peace and comfort as well as in times of trial

Conclusion

The example of faith and obedience provided by Abraham is one of the greatest lessons we can learn and continue to learn with a deeper knowledge.  Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was a similitude of Heavenly Father’s willingness to sacrifice his Only Begotten Son. The Atonement and the great love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us is our most precious gift, it is up to us to live so that we will be worthy of that gift.  To live like we are Abraham...to say, we will sacrifice, we will obey to say....here I am Lord....  

Resources: 

Conference Reports 

Encyclopedia of Mormonism edited by Daniel H. Ludlow.

Ensign.

History of the Church by Joseph Smith 

Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith.

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie.

Old Testament Student Manual.

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 

Gospel Doctrine Class