Thank you for the question, ”Does Scripture say that God deceived Abraham?”
As I read the life of Abraham, God didn’t deceive Abraham. Deception involves misleading someone for one’s own advantage. It is a trick to get the upper hand over a person. A test is asking/revealing some information to see how that person responds. It involves a reflection of one own moral character. I cite two examples about God’s interaction with Abraham. This is for one’s consideration:
A. Genesis 18:16–25.
Genesis 18 says this, “ When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
20 Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake…”
As one reads this text, God already knew the evil conduct of Sodom and Gomorrah, but Abraham may not be fully aware of their behavior (vs. 17). God revealed to Abraham what he was about to do so that he would REVEAL HIS OWN CHARACTER to God and to his future descendants. There was no deception of taking an advantage of Abraham for his own gain It was a test of what is right and just. Would Abraham be compassionate or be indifferent to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah of impending judgment? Abraham’s pleas for mercy before God. God agrees to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there were 10 righteous people in those cities. Abraham set the standard and God agreed to it.
B. Genesis 22:1–5.
Genesis 22 says this, “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you” (NIV).
One viewpoint of this passage is this, “Did God deceived or test Abraham when he knew that he wasn’t going to let his son die?” Deception has the motive of taking an advantage of al person for one’s benefit. There was no benefit to God for deceiving Abraham but rather God’s promise and honor were at stake. God had already fulfilled his promise of an heir to Abraham and Sarah. The death of Isaac would violate God’s promise to him.
The Scripture states that Abraham loved Isaac. Isaac was the loved of his life. God placed a test before Abraham of whether he loved his son more than God. As Abraham traveled to that mountain, he reasoned that by faith that they will worship God and they will return to his servants. Abraham believed that God will provide a way of escape for him and that he would not have to kill his son. Even if that were to happened, he also believed that God was able to raise him to life even as God gave Sarah a child when she was barren. His willingness to obey God showed that he love God more than his own life or son.
The Scriptures records a deception of Jacob pretending to be Esau to gain an advantage over him by taking his blessings. His mother was in the plot to deceive her husband by preparing the food and the materials to appear to be Esau.
SUMMARY: God did not take an advantage of Abraham for his own gain, but revealed what was in Abraham’s heart.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Does-Scripture-say-that-God-deceived-Abraham