In this modern era, one would think that the practice of human sacrifice would be obsolete.
In the culture that Abram left four thousand years ago, archeology has shown that they not only sacrificed animals but humans as well.
According to a New York Times article, it was a violent death by driving a spike through the sacrificial victim’s head.
Two thousand years after Abraham, blood sacrifice had spread like a cancer throughout the whole world, and it was progressing in its evolution.
It was often believed that the God’s were no longer appeased by animals and desired the innocent blood of an infant or young child instead.
God’s plan, according to Isaiah chapter 42 in the Hebrew Bible, was for his chosen one to teach the true way starting in Judea and then to take the message of the kingdom of God to the Nations.
However, that plan never materialized, because Yeshua was murdered before he ever got out of his own country.
It has been two thousand years now since Christ’s death and, thankfully, the physical practice has died down, but it is still alive and well in the belief system of those who follow the Christian religion.
2.3 billion people who call themselves Christians keep the concept alive in their religious belief system, because they believe that Christ was a human sacrifice offered up for the sins of mankind.
In fact, it is the very basis of their religion.
This is probably uncomfortable for Christians to hear, because instead of being called human sacrifice, it has been nicely hidden in a euphemism.
Christ is referred to as the perfect unblemished Lamb of God that was offered up in order to connect humans to a holy God.
Although, almost every other religion on Earth has abandoned the practice of blood sacrifice, it is not only Christians who revere this ancient act.
In the Middle East right now, two cultures are fighting for the site where a rock resides that is believed to be where Abraham attempted to sacrifice a child.
The Jewish people believe that the child was Isaac, and the Muslim people believe that the child was Ishmael. And, each group strives to possess the “holy ground.”
So, let’s talk about Abraham’s plight to sacrifice a son.
In Genesis 22 of the Hebrew Bible it is recorded,
Sometime afterward, God put Abraham to the test.
The King James Bible records it as God tempted him. However, the Hebrew interpretation of the word, test, is much more logical in the context of his situation.
Why would God be putting Abraham to the test?
Because, Abraham had been walking with God for approximately thirty plus years at that point, and it would be reasonable to think that Abraham should have known the heart of God pretty well by then.
Also, he had been living in the land of Canaan for those three decades and God was probably wanting to see how much Abraham had been influenced by his cultural surroundings.
You see, the Canaanites had a reputation for sacrificing children to their Gods.
In verse 2 it is recorded that God spoke to Abraham, “take your son, your favored one, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you.”
So, God put Abraham to the test to see if he would simply follow directions, or if he would have a discussion with God, like he had done many times in the past.
Abraham did not even question the instructions, but packed up all his supplies and journeyed three days to his destination.
Even though he had three days to think it over, Abraham did not stop and question.
The story in Genesis records that God ended up stopping Abraham from the brutal act, after he had already bound Isaac and was raising the knife to commit human sacrifice to God.
It was shockingly apparent that Abraham did not truly know the heart of God, as he failed the test that day.
If he had known the heart of God, Abraham would have responded with, “the Canaanite God’s require the blood of human children, but that is NOT your way. I know you. You are the Most High God and you don’t desire human sacrifice.”
And, God would have replied, “good job, Abraham, you passed the test, and you do know me.”
But no, the act of Abraham attempting to sacrifice his son, has been heralded as the greatest act of faith that any human has ever done, and he is revered for it by the Jewish people, the Muslims, and the Christians.
Interestingly, the Jewish people were forced to give up animal sacrifice when the Romans destroyed their temple in 70 AD, and the Muslims never established the ritual practice of blood sacrifice.
However, the Christians have continued the ancient ritual in their belief system.
Today, they spread the message throughout the Earth that Jesus was a blood sacrifice for the redemption of mankind and those who accept it are saved from coming judgement.
Here’s what Micah had to say about it in the 6th chapter as recorded in the Hebrew Bible.
With what shall I approach the Lord, Do homage to God on high?
Shall I approach him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?
Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, With myriads of streams of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, The fruit of my body for my sin?
He has told you, O man, what is good, And what the Lord requires of you. Only to do justice, And to love goodness, And to walk modestly with your God.
Then, will your name achieve wisdom.