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Problem: Critical scholars assert that the early Hebrews had a very rudimentary religion that over the centuries would undergo great evolutionary development before ultimately arriving at a concept of life after death. However, this phrase implies that the Hebrews had a concept of immortality at a very early stage in the development of the nation.
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Problem: Regarding this passage, atheist Richard Dawkins writes,

By the standards of modern morality, this disgraceful story is an example simultaneously of child abuse, bullying in two asymmetrical power relationships, and the first recorded use of the Nuremberg defence: ‘I was only obeying orders.’ Yet the legend is one of the great foundational myths of all three monotheistic religions.[1]
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God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac because their actions are pointing ahead to the person of Christ in a typology of the true sacrifice. First of all, God says to Abraham to take his only son. But, we know that 13 years earlier Ishmael had been born to Abraham. So why would God call Isaac the only son? The answer becomes clear when we see what the Scriptures teach.

“Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ 2 And He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you,’” (Gen. 22:1-2).

When Jesus was having a dialogue with the Jews, they accused him of being demon-possessed. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews, therefore, said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am,’” (John 8:56-58). (Note that Jesus claimed divinity by referencing the divine name “I AM.” see Exodus 3:14-15). Now, Jesus said that Abraham saw his day. What did Jesus mean by this? The answer is found in the following chart.

Let’s examine the chart. Both Isaac and Jesus are called the only begotten son. Of course, Abraham knew he had a son named Ishmael. But it was not Ishmael who was the son of the promised covenant; it was Isaac, (Gen. 17:19). That is why God called Isaac Abraham’s only son. Plus, Isaac was representing the future Messiah. Jesus was also called the only begotten son. Also, both Jesus and Isaac were offered on a hill, and most scholars that I have read agree that it was the very same hill upon which they were both offered, though around 1800 years apart.

If you examine the chart, you can see that there is a very close parallel between the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Jesus. Furthermore, you should be able to see that Abraham represented God the Father. Isaac represented God the Son. And the servant represented God the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice of Christ was typified in the sacrifice of Isaac.

Conclusion
So, why did Abraham offer his son Isaac? He did so out of obedience – believing that God could raise him from the dead (Heb. 11:19), and also in his obedience, he acted out the true sacrifice of the true only begotten son, Jesus.

Problem: How many children did Abraham have, one or two?Genesis 22:2, Hebrews 11:17, and Galatians 4:22 tell us different things.  What about Ishmael and Isaac?  Aren’t they both the children of Abraham?
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Problem: Muslim apologists note that Genesis 22:2 states, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac.” But Abraham clearly had two sons: Ishmael and Isaac. Why would this text state that Isaac was his only son? Muslim scholar Yusuf Ali argues,

The Jewish tradition, in order to glorify the younger branch of the family, descended from Isaac, ancestor of the Jews, as against the elder branch, descended from Ismael, ancestor of the Arabs, refers this sacrifice to Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).  Now Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old (Gen 21:5), while Ishmael was born to Abraham when Abraham was 86 years old (Gen 16:16).  Ishmael was therefore 14 years older than Isaac.  During his first 14 years Ishmael was the only son of Abraham; at no time was Isaac the only son of Abraham.  Yet, in speaking of the sacrifice, the Old Testament says (Gen 22:2): “And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah: and offer him there for a burnt offering…”  This slip shows at any rate which was the older version, and how it was overlaid, like the present Jewish records, in the interests of a tribal religion.[1]
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Problem: Does God tempt people? There are different ways to understand temptation. God tested Abraham, but did not tempt him with sin. One person can offer a temptation to a second person, but the second person is not tempted. For example, I have no interest in sports whatsoever. If someone were to tempt me with tickets to a football game instead of going out to dinner at my wife, they’ve offered a temptation, but I’m not actually tempted. So, it can be understood differently.
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Problem: In Genesis 22:1, we read, “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham.” Open theist John Sanders writes, “God needs to know if Abraham is the sort of person on whom God can count for collaboration toward the fulfillment of the divine project. Will he be faithful? Or must God find someone else through whom to achieve his purpose?”[1]
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Problem: Why did Lot give his daughters to the crowd of men? Lot was wrong to offer his daughters to the sinful men. Remember the Bible records the good and bad that people do.

“Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof,” (Genesis 19:8).
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Problem: In some verses of Scripture, people see God.  But, in other verses, it says they cannot see God?  Is this a contradiction?  It is not if you understand the Trinity and the context of those verses.\
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Problem: Because Sarai was barren, she told Abraham to impregnate her handmaiden, Hagar. However, this seems too bizarre to be believed! Why would Sarai willingly tell her husband to cheat on her?
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Problem: In chapters 5 and 7 of his book, the author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is in the high priesthood of Melchizedek.
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Problem: If God is not the author of confusion, what about the Tower of Babel? This isn’t a difficult issue at all.
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Problem: Critics often argue that Genesis 1-11 is simply a myth, and stories like the Tower of Babel are fictitious. Is this the case?
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