Obviously this is a most difficult passage. At some level i get the idea that God would test the recipient of the promise with the loss of the sign of the promise, a young son. It is difficult for me to grasp why, other than an arbitrary test of power and obeisance that seems unsuited to the majesty of the Holy One. Yes, it could be a powerful appeal against child sacrifice. Yes, it can be read in league with the preceding story of the saving of Ishmael.
I wonder if it is also an account of Abraham putting God to the test in a divine human game of chicken. The same Abraham that tried to protect sodom is seeing how far god will go. When he says, God will provide, is he whistling in the dark or is it a virtual taunt thrown to heaven?
Robert Alter alerts us to the careful use of verbs here that serve to make the action agonizingly slow.
do you think Sarah knew of the planned sacrifice?
Elie Wiesel has some fine points in an essay in Messengers from God
What motivates god in this passage? Why?
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