[Just to be honest and clear, I am not wise and I have no special gift. I know nothing and I am a hypocrite. I am just trying to understand God and what it means to follow Him. That is why I am writing]
--…Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. - Gen 22:12--
Many of us are familiar with the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. This verse is from that story - God has told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, his only heir. The reason? None given.
How cruel!! How horrible! How can a God of love and peace demand that an old man (over 100 at this point) kill his only beloved son!? Now, Sarah had just sent away Ishmael, Abraham’s first son. So after that, Isaac is his only son left. The only one. And there won’t be any more too – Isaac is named for Abraham and Sarah’s laughter at God’s promise that they would be able to have a child at their age. And then Isaac is born, Ishmael is sent away, and God demands Isaac’s life as a sacrifice. Leaving Abraham with nothing. Yes, that sounds like the demands of a God of love...
Isaac was Abraham’s whole life. Everything. Isaac was the personification of the covenant that God made with Abraham, the embodiment of God’s promise to Abraham, and His grace. And then what does God do? He demands it back. He gives Abraham what Abraham desires most, and then calls it back. And the next morning, Abraham is setting off to the mountain to sacrifice his own child. Can you imagine that walk? Imagine the pain that every step must have caused, the wrenching fear of reaching the summit. It took three days to reach that point – ample time to turn around. Plenty of time for Abraham to say “God, this is messed up. No deal.” But he doesn’t. Step by step he moves forward.
And then, at the site where the sacrifice is to take place, Isaac asks what could be the most painful question Abraham has ever heard. “Where is the lamb for the offering?”
“The Lord will provide.” That is the response. That? Sounds like Abraham is trying to convince himself more than anything! And then he has to prepare his own son to be sacrificed, he has to raise the knife, and only when he has committed himself fully, only when his hand is being brought down does an angel hold him back.
This story bothers me. It bothers me to no end and I expect it to bother anyone who reads it. Why? Because of the utter cruelty of the situation. The total pain. Does following God really mean that we have to sacrifice that which is most precious to us? To be take something we don’t think we could live without, the person that embodies our future, hopes, and love and sacrifice it?
Did God demand Abraham sacrifice Isaac? Or did God demand Abraham’s willingness to do so?
Abraham is the Biblical model of faith (and note he still doesn’t do it right all the time). But Abraham’s faith and surrender to God is an example to all believers. It is Abraham’s willingness to go so far in order to follow God that makes him this model. Abraham is bringing the knife down and with not a second to spare, his hand is held back. Abraham was probably more willing to kill himself than his own son.
We must be willing to give to God the most precious parts of our life. What God does with it? Well that is the insanely scary part of faith.
BUT God is not saying that He will destroy all we love simply because we love it nor is this saying that He demands such an act on our part! Not at all!! What God is telling Abraham is that in the end, it is not about you and you have to trust Him.
Well here is the kicker – here is the truly humbling part of this. When I read this story and think of the cruelty of this test, I am angry. I am furious, indignant, and afraid. Very afraid. I am upset because the God of love that I believe in would not act in such a way!... Would he? Well, read this taunt, hear the sarcasm and bitterness in it:
--“He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. – Mt 27:43-44--
Abraham’s knife was raised again to sacrifice another son, but it was not held back that time. Yes. God would do something so seemingly cruel as to demand the sacrifice of a son. But that demand is only of himself, of his own son, and we are spared for it.
We must be willing to have the faith of Abraham. But, honestly, we have it easier than he did. Abraham, as the knife was held back, saw a ram in a thicket – the sacrifice to replace Isaac. It was not until that moment did Abraham know that God would spare them both. But whatever happens to us, we already know that the price has been paid.
This story of Abraham is more than an example of faith. This is help us empathize with the pain that must have afflicted God in allowing his only son to be sacrificed. In the end, that sacrifice is not demanded of us. We won’t need to give up our most valuable possession just because it is something we love. But we do need to grasp the depth of this sacrifice by understanding the pain of such a sacrifice if we had do. And then know that it was done for you and I.
So what is demanded of us? Look at the verse again.
--…Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. - Gen 22:12--
Look at the word withheld. Think of the things we value in our lives so much that we hold them back for fear they will go away. God wants us to be totally open with him. God wants us to trust Him because in the end, the debt has been paid.
He is saying “don’t hold back from me because you are afraid. Trust me, I’ve got you covered.” Don’t be the person only half in this relationship. Don’t hold back anything, even the things you are afraid of losing. Because the funny thing about His love for us, is that what we love He loves. What we cherish, He cherishes. So don’t be afraid to hold back. He has already made that horribly painful sacrifice so we won't have to. And He did it because He wants us to be able to be with Him. Who are we to say no to that by not going all in?
It's downright humorous that I of all people should even think about commenting on a bit about the bible, when I haven't read all of it - but, as you say, no one's an expert.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a constant theme throughout the old testament of a stern, more vengeful God, as opposed to the God of love that we find in the new one. This is often discussed and rightfully tossed in for discussion. To be an annoying historical analyst for a moment - one has to remember when these were written and about and for whom. The Old Testament contains very many moral tales that indicate, as you said, how someone should be trustful of God, and also ensuring everyone knows of His all powerful-nature. There are also many laws and codes - the basis for a culture and legal system. The book of Job is another example of a tale that reveals God as somewhat stern and angry. The Jews are a persecuted people, living amongst many different peoples of all sorts of faiths, with varying degrees of freedom and 'sinfulness' among them. In the Old Testament, one must expect a declaration of law and guidance.
The New Testament presents a very different God, as it focuses on the Prince of Peace and Love, Jesus and his life. It is in the New Testament that God becomes personal, and it is clearly a set of works that already has a culture to put itself into context with.
That was a bunch of jumbled incoherent mess just then, but perhaps by keeping the two presentations of God separate, and looking into the reasons for the revelation of those different aspects you might be able to more easily embrace the personal loving nature of the Christian age God versus the foundational omnipotence within the Old Testament God.
BTW - Song on Solomon - awesome.