Genesis And Exodus: God Tests Abraham And The Ten Commandments Essay

Coming after God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac’s birth marked the fulfillment of God’s promises and in turn, reassured Abraham of God’s legitimacy. Therefore, God’s request for Isaac as a burnt sacrifice played a significant role in determining Abraham’s loyalty and faith in Him. Isaac was Abraham’s only child, thus securing his parents’ love, and Abraham’s lineage depended on the boy. Accordingly, Abraham’s response was to take Isaac and the necessary items for a burnt offering and proceed with the sacrifice (Genesis 22:12). In contrary, on a personal level, one might fear having to explain to their significant other about God’s command for their only child as a sacrifice. It is safer to request a repetition of the same command while we are together to avoid any misunderstandings later.
The Ten Commandments entail God’s instructions for the Israelites on how they should relate to each other and Him. A good illustration is in the first commandment, which states, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Through the commandment, God reasserts Himself as the only God of Israel. On the other hand, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) gives instructions for the value of life and at the same time reasserts God’s dominion over the people. “Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12) stands out because it holds a promise. Conclusively, the Ten Commandments narrow down an existing moral code because it also resembles societal norms and the law. In other words, failing to heed to the warnings held in said commandments results in either a punishment or shunning by others.

Work Cited

The Holy Bible: New King James Version (NKJV). New Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005. Print.