Genesis

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NASB	Genesis 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	Genesis 22:1 Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he answered, "Here I am."

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Subject: "God told me to do it"

Bible Note: Hi Makarios
Thanks for this response, however my friend Tim argues with the whole thing and is pushing his case. Here is a letter from him.

Ricardo.
I can thus deduct, that God does indeed tell people to do bad things... Hmmmm, that somehow doesn't sound right... It is therefore impossible to tell whether or not it is the devil, or God talking to us in our dreams. Because as Gen 22:1-19 tells us, "God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son to God... (ie burn and murder him)". That is why I would not be tempted to look into dreams as an indicator of or duty to God, or future. It is clear, that from this, we do not know who is putting things in our head. Could it therefore be possible, that those people we see, who hear voices in their head, telling them to do "bad things", could indeed be God speaking to them? However unlikely this may be, it is certain we must look at Gen 22:1-19 and reconsider our response. Simply not labelling those people as "wackos". I could gurantee you, that if Abraham had consulted a psychiatrist in this day and age, about how he had heard a voice claiming it was God, ordering him to kill his son, he would almost certainly be put in a straight jacket. We however know it was God, and that Abraham was not a "wacko". Puts a new edge on defining a mental illness doesn't it? No psychiatrist has the corner on truth...

God does indeed tell people to do bad things... (As a test). Yet God disallowed Abraham to go through with his sacrifice... I would encourage all people who look deeply into dreams, and visions, to treat such things with caution. Always consult the scriptures before acting on anything.
Ricardo, I will try and collaborate more verses to evidence my case. What do I make of Gen 22? In my view, it would seem ridiculous for God to test a mere man's faith, for he already knew the extent to which Abraham's faith reached... Possibly God is trying to say that he can tell people to do bad things. I do not know, I am only human, and cannot explain God's actions. However, from this, I do know that it is very important that we treat all dreams and visions with the highest degree of caution. For if you are ordered to sin, we must not cross out God as the voice, as Gen 22 tells us... It could just as equally be the devil polluting our minds... Then again, we could be mentally ill... I honestly do not know... This arguement is somewhat jumbled, as I've just been rifling off what ever's on my mind. But if I have not made something clear, please ask.
Tim

thanks
regards Ricardo

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