On a side note, the three main faiths (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) hail Abraham as the father of their faith. That being said, it is only through the Christian faith that we can find out the right reason and motive of God through this command. 

When you read this story, Abraham does not even question God. Instead, he sets out in faithful obedience to sacrifice his only son Isaac. 

Some people may even question Abraham for actually considering such an act. But we cannot impose a 21st-century worldview on an ancient cultural view; therefore, it is essential to understand the cultural context in which Abraham lived. 

Abraham was called out of southern Mesopotamia and no doubt would have been familiar with child sacrifice in that part of the world. He was later called to go to Canaan (the future promised land), where child sacrifice was predominant. So Abraham, through his cultural lens, might have understood child sacrifice as the highest way in which one could show their devotion to their God.

So when God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, he set out in faith-full obedience. And just as he was about to slay his son, God said to stop (as if to say I am not like the other Gods), I will provide a sacrifice.

Genesis 22:13-14 (NKJV)

13. Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

14. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Two thousand years ago, God fulfilled this very promise by taking His own begotten son up Mount Calvary (the crucifixion), and this time the axe did not stop. God unleashed the wrath that was intended for our sins onto Jesus so that we could live. 

God does not command human sacrifice but instead provided the ultimate sacrifice for us all because He loves us. Now, anyone who repents and believes in Jesus is promised eternal life.

John 11:25 (NKJV)

25. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

If we want to get deeper into the question, we can also ask if God has the right to command the death of anyone? And the answer is yes; in fact, God didn’t just tell Abraham to kill Issac – in the book of Joshua, He told the Israelites to completely destroy the Canaanites.

The fact of the matter is that no man has any right to live, let alone take another breath, because we have all sinned, and the wages of sin is death. So the fact that we even take another breath is God suspending the just punishment that we deserve.

Therefore, at any point, God commands the death of anyone; it would be within the framework of His righteousness, holiness and justice. But instead, God displays His patience and mercy by giving us common grace so that we are not punished the moment we deserve it.