The Real Reason Ibrahim Offered a Lamb — And Not His Son
Why Did the Prophet Ibrahim Offer a Lamb Instead of His Son?
Good news for everyone.
War Wanaagsan oo Loogu Talagalay Dadka Soomaaliyeed
“The Lord will provide.”
These were the words of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) when God asked him to offer his beloved son as a sacrifice. Abraham trusted God’s promise that his son would have many descendants, so he believed God had a plan. Abraham obeyed and went to the mountain with his son, ready to sacrifice him.
At the last moment, God stopped him. God praised Abraham for his faith and provided a lamb to be sacrificed instead. The lamb died in the son’s place, and Abraham named the place “The Lord will provide.” (Taurat, Genesis 22:1–14)
This act was a prophecy that helps us understand the meaning of sacrifice throughout the Holy Scriptures.
Sacrifice From the Beginning
Sacrifice has always been a part of God’s story with humanity. In the Taurat (Genesis 4:1–5), Abel (Habil), the son of Adam and Eve, offered a lamb to God, and it was accepted. His brother Cain (Qabil) offered crops, but God did not accept his offering. From the beginning, a lamb’s sacrifice was shown to be pleasing to God.
The Passover in Egypt
Generations later, when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God sent Prophet Moses (Moussa) to deliver them. Pharaoh refused to release them, so God sent plagues. In the final plague, every firstborn in Egypt was to die. But God gave the Israelites a way of escape: they were to sacrifice a perfect lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood.
That night, the angel of death passed over every house marked with the blood. The lamb had died instead of the firstborn. (Taurat, Exodus 12:1–30) This act is remembered every year in the feast of Passover.
The Law and Forgiveness
After leaving Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Taurat, Exodus 20:1–17) to teach His people right from wrong. Yet knowing they would fall short, God also provided a means of forgiveness.
A sinner would bring a perfect animal to the priest, confess their sin, and offer it as a sacrifice. The animal’s blood was placed on the altar, and God granted forgiveness. (Taurat, Leviticus 4:27–35) Again, the lamb died in the sinner’s place. But this was only a picture of a greater sacrifice to come.
The Prophet Isaiah’s Prophecy
The Prophet Isaiah, writing 700 years before Jesus, described a man who would suffer and die for our sins:
“He was wounded for our sins... The Lord laid on him the sin of us all... Like a lamb led to the slaughter, he stayed silent.”
Isaiah’s words pointed to a future sacrifice—not of an animal, but of a man who would bear our sins.
Jesus the Messiah – The Lamb of God
In the Injil (Gospel), the Prophet John (Yahya) saw Jesus and said:
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
"Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for many."
Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) He died on the cross, the true and final sacrifice. All earlier sacrifices were symbols, pointing to Him. (Hebrews 9:26–28)
Three days after His death, God raised Him to life. Jesus is alive—and He will return to gather those who trust in Him.
The Mountain of Sacrifice
The mountain where Abraham offered his son the same place where Jerusalem was later built. Centuries after Abraham, Jesus carried the wood of His own cross up that very hill, just as Abraham’s son once carried the wood for the sacrifice.
But while God spared Abraham’s son by providing a lamb, Jesus was the Lamb. He was not spared. He died so we could live. The lamb that took the son’s place in Abraham’s story was a foreshadowing of Jesus—the true Lamb of God.
What Must We Do?
Abraham showed true faith when he trusted God and accepted the lamb that died in place of his son. In the same way, we show we are true sons and daughters of Abraham when we trust in the Lamb that God has provided for us—Jesus the Messiah.
Like those who brought lambs to the altar, we must confess our sins, turn away from them, and trust in Jesus as our sacrifice. Then we receive forgiveness and peace with God.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.”
Will you follow in Abraham’s footsteps? Will you trust in Jesus—the Lamb of God who died for your sins?