The Holy Bible: Description of Genesis Chapter 22-1-23 (Essay Sample)

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Part 1.
The Holy Bible has different versions which explain the same story, but some may mean differently linguistically. In this context, we analyze four different version that is King James Version, NIV Version, The Message and The Torah. After a critical analysis of the scripture of Genesis 22: 1-24 using the above versions I noted there are some differences.
The differences may include; According to Genesis 22 verse 11, the response Abraham gave concerning the Angel calling him. According to The Torah, Abraham replied, "Here I am”, The Message, "Yes, I am listening”, The NIV, "Here I am" and King James, "Here am I." In this phrase, according to one’s understanding may mean the same but linguistically they are different. For example "Yes, I am listening" is different from "Here I am" because the first phrase may mean that Abraham is seen to have already known that God is present at that place while the second phrase may mean that God did not know the position which Abraham's location. Also "Here I am" and "Here am I" may mean differently because of the ordering of words.
The second difference comes in Genesis 22 verses 12 where it is unclear how many son Abraham had. When the Angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham. According to The Torah, "Your Favoured one”, The Message "Your dear son”, The NIV, " Your only Son" and King James version "Your only son." In the two version that is NIV and King James it is evident that Abraham had only one son but in The Torah and The Message, it is unclear on the number of sons because maybe he preferred Isaac over the others.
The third difference comes in Genesis 22 verse 14 where Abraham was naming the mountain where he received the blessings. The name of the mountain had different analogue of interpretation. According to The Torah, "On the mountain of the Lord there is vision”, The Message "On the mountain of God, He sees to it”, The NIV and King James Version "The mountain of the Lord it shall be provided”. The naming of the mountain had a different meaning, for example, The Torah call it mountain of vision, vision doesn’t guarantee provision as King James and NIV puts it. Again The Message put it mountain where He see it, this implies that He can see but not provide. While King James and the NIV pout that it is a mountain of provision which means that there is no vision on the mountain. So the meaning of the naming of the mountain is unclear.
Part 2.
In the book of Genesis 22: 1-24, The Holy Bible talks about God testing Abraham’s Faith in him whereby he was required to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeyed the command of God and went on to sacrifice his son, but before he could do it, the Lord provided a sheep which he sacrificed instead. Through that offering his son, God blessed Abraham and told him, his descendants will be blessed too through him, and when we read from Chapter 20-24, the Lord had started to fulfil the blessing where we read that his brother Norah had 12 children in general.
God in this story tries to convey a message that all belong to him and thus we are supposed to have faith in him above anything else. The worldly things are insignificant despite how an individual loves it, the faith in Him is above everything and through having faith in Him, and He will bless us abundantly. This chapter fits into the other scriptures, as faith is the key to all the stories which the likes of Moses, Daniel, Elijah, Ezekiel and many others who obeyed the commands of God and had faith in Him and accomplish their task victoriously. In addition to that in Genesis 22: 17, The promise to Abraham that his descendants will be victorious against the enemies where the likes of Moses and Daniel were victorious against their enemies.
Part 3 (A)
The significance of Genesis 22:1-24, is the test of obedient where in most of our lives we are called upon to work with the Lord, but we see that the earthly things being significant and we may not be ready to lose them (Keck, 25). At the beginning of the chapter, God is seen to have walked with Abraham for about 35 years and. Therefore, God had learnt of the weakness and strength of Abraham. Through walking with Abraham, God had tested him more than once of which such test some of them he failed while others he passed. So at one point in time, we are faced with a decision or call to make, but the person who chooses his call wisely and forgo the earthly support things is the one destined to God. So in summary in the scripture, the test of obedient is portrayed when one can forgo what he/she loves most for God’s work.
The test of faith, this test is significant once an individual has obeyed the call, it is important to him/her to have faith that everything he/she is doing because it has benefits. Just like Abraham, obeyed the call and he knew sacrificing Isaac had some advantages, and as he was about to sacrifice him, the Lord appeared to him and told him that through his faith, he was blessed. Through this chapter, one is first called to obey then having faith is another test that one must see as being significant in our lives as human beings.
The issue that makes me understand the message is that the scripture is trying to portray the importance of sacrificing the most valuable resource that one has for the call. Most of the time we are called, but we are not willing to sacrifice our precious things, for example, money and others, but Abraham was able to let go his only son for the call, and remember the person who is calling you may be unknown because Abraham never saw God (Peterson, 23). So I doubt if an individual can sacrifice his/her valuable resources and follow the unknown person. Through this scripture, God demonstrate that through faith, and obedient one can benefit for example Abraham was blessed.
Part 3(B).
The similarities between different commentaries are that they all talk of Abraham’s obedient to God. They further explain that through Abraham giving his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God every descendant of Abraham is blessed, and Abraham is referred to as the "Father of nations." Similarly, almost all commentaries talks about the faith of Abraham where Abraham demonstrated a high degree of faith that sacrificing his son was the best option that he could have done to please God. Through such test of faith and obedient, all the commentaries talks of blessings that he received (Plaut, 27). Similarly, the revelation of the fulfillment of the promise where almost all the commentaries quote that the brother of Abraham Norah has 12 children. Hence, this shows that God fulfils thy blessings when offered.
Some commentaries suggest that previously Abraham failed and passed some tests which God provided him, so the test of sacrificing his son Isaac was a test to know how powerful and obedient he was while other commentaries suggest that Abraham had opposed sacrificing of children so God put him to a test to determine his faith (Peterso...