I have made this statement many times in earlier postings in this forum,
but it needs repeating. While it is true that one may honestly and
earnestly question any topic in the Torah, to offer answers, viewpoints and
opinions based on just a reading of the text and without having read thru
the basic commentaries on the Chumash, is not the path to real
understanding. It is similar to what we used to do in high school, and
judging from P.T.A. are still doing in High schools, which was to read a
poem or story and discuss what the author meant, why the character did
whatever he did. The Torah is not a story. It is not even History. It is
Hashem teaching us his divine will and the ONLY way to understand what he
meant to convey to us is be learning the explanations of the Torah. The
most basic of them is Rashi [Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki] on Chumash [the Torah].
Having said that, to the best of my knowledge no one says Avrohom failed in
any way during this test. That is to say Avrohom scored a 100% on this
challenge. I will quote from the Medrash Tanchuma (The very last on on
Parshas Vayera. NOTE: I am giving a "free" translation of the Medrash.)
G-d says "I swear that because you did this thing..." Abraham answered G-d
saying, "you swore, and now I swear that I will not descend from this altar
until I say everything I need to." (G-d said) Speak. (Avrohom said) Didn't
you tell me my children would be like the stars in the sky? (G-d Said)
"Yes." (Avrohom then asked) And from what child did you mean? (G-d
answered) From Yitzchock. (Avrohom continued) Well, just like I was able to
question you yesterday and I could have said, "yesterday you promised to
make the children of Yitzchock like the stars of the sky, and now you say
to sacrifice him?" But I did not, and I restrained myself. So too, when the
children of Yitzchok / Isaac will sin before you and they enter into
desperate situations, you should remember this AKEIDA, The Binding of
Yitzhock, and you should consider it as if he was killed and his ashes are
on this altar (and forgive his children).
G-D answered Avrohom and He said, you said your piece, now I will say mine.
Yitzchok's children WILL sin and I will judge them on Rosh Hashona. If they
want me to find a merit for them they will have to blow a shofar, and I
will remember the Binding of Isaac. The Akedas Yitzchock. Avrohom asked,
What is a shofar? G-d answered turn around. (It was at that point that
Avrohom saw the Ram tangled in the bushes...)
So Avrohom had enough ability to answer and argue with G-d. But he would
not question. Why? There are many possible reasons. One is: it depends who
the the recipient is. In other words, When G-d said he will destroy Sodom
and AMORAH then Avrohom felt he was doing another a favor and he was
required to pray for them (Otherwise why would G-d be telling him of their
impending doom?). However here G-D told _Avrohom_ to sacrifice Isaac. Maybe
he felt any question he asks may only be a question because he is not being
objective. After all what would he not do to save his son. Therefore he
would not ask the question. Yitzhock also could have questioned his father,
after all he was 37 years old at the time and could have protested very
easily. He, also did not question his father's actions. He accepted his
father's will as easily as Avrohom accepted G-d's will to sacrifice
Yitzhock. I could also refer back to my earlier posting on this Topic.
(Sorry I do not remember which issue, but it was in response to Bill
Bickel's question about how Avrohom could bring himself to sacrifice
Yitzhock) which would answer why Avrohom did not question G-d's command to
him.
As far as the name Yisroel / Israel goes, Rashi explains it means you have
fought ANGELS and won. It has nothing to do (G-d forbid) with winning
against G-d.
Hope this helps,
Yosey