Abrahams Only Son QUESTION: In Genesis 22, we read the story of Abraham being commanded to sacrifice Isaac.

I know the point of the story, but I'm getting hung up on a detail (typical for me): Isaac is referred to as Abraham's "only son". Problem with that is that he has an older brother, Ishmael (13 years older, born to Abraham's concubine [secondary wife] Hagar). -------------------------------ANSWER: Since Hagar and Ishmael were banished, they effectively were discounted as Abrahams family in future narratives. Only such folks as you remember the poor folks that were sent away to starve although they were divinely nourished and Ishmael survived to become almost the reflexion of his half-nephew, Jacob, by having twelve sons, each of whom because a Prince of a desert tribe. Since the Covenant people missed out Ishmael and his descendants he is persona non grata in patriarchal terms and was treated as though he never was. The story of Abrams sacrifice of Isaac becomes more poignant if we hold to the necessary semi-fiction that Isaac was his only son. This is because Abram had had great promises made to him that required him to have a son through whose lineage the promises could be fulfilled. Abram put great store in the fulfillment of those promises, and who wouldnt? So, put yourself in Abrams place: Isaac is your, only son, and even the son of your remarkably old age, but you look to his progeny to bring blessings and honour, even glory, to your family. As you smile at the growing lad, almost sensing the fulfillment of the great promises reposed in you and your family by the Holy One of Israel, you hear Jehovah command you to take the lad and slaughter him as a sacrifice to him. You could say, Hey, God, hold on just a minute! You promised me that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in my seed, and now you want me to take my only child and chop him in bits! What happened to your promises? But, father Abraham didnt do that. He took his faith in one hand and his knife in the other and prepared to be obedient. His willingness was imputed to him for righteousness as if he had sacrificed his lad. But the Lord, having witnessed his willingness, stayed his hand and provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. The tale balances Gods promises, their fulfillment, and what may be required of us that seems to pull those promised blessings back from us at times, and whether, in the light of our expectations, we are willingly obedient. Ronnie Bray