What would you have done?
I just got done reading Genesis 22:1-19. God comes to Abraham and asks him to take his son away and sacrifice his life as a burnt offering. Man, talk about a gut-wrenching "ask". This is the son (Isaac) that Abraham and Sarah have waited for a long time. Isaac was their "miracle baby" (they were well beyond child-bearing years). Isaac was their promise come true--through him God would bless the world. What's up? How could God have asked Abraham to do something so "out there"? What do you think the point was? How would you have responded?
I'm speaking on this passage in a couple of weeks at Crossroads. I'd like to hear your insights/reactions.
Blog away. And let's keep the discussion going on a previous blog of a few weeks ago (29 comments and going).
Phil
I'm speaking on this passage in a couple of weeks at Crossroads. I'd like to hear your insights/reactions.
Blog away. And let's keep the discussion going on a previous blog of a few weeks ago (29 comments and going).
Phil
posted by Pastor Phil Print at 8:54 AM
6 Comments:
Truthfully?? No way! Not even a remote possibility. If I'm honest about my children there is NO WAY i'd even consider that sacrifice.
I'd like to believe that on my best day I'd be willing to sacrifice my own life for my Faith - and even that may be purely idealistic on my part - but my kids??
i guess you could say that abraham has earned his title as 'the father of faith'. not only was he willing to do the ultimate sacrifice, but he also obeyed God earlier in his life by leaving everything to wander among strangers until God told him to stop & make a home for himself & future generations. it's hard to relate to such dedication & closeness to God! although, it seems that when God does unique things at critical times, He will divinely visit & equip the individual He has chosen to do it. it seems that all of those he does use, have admitted to 'being of like passions' as the rest of us.
Yes, Abraham does deserve to be considered the "Father of Faith."
The thing that has always bothered me about that story was that there was no practical reason - outside of the fact that God told him to do it - to sacrifice Isaac.
I mean, if you read in the paper of a man who killed his son because "God told me to - as an act of Faith" we would all claim he was severly misled and disturbed.
I do appreciate Joyn's story - it is for me a much more 'practical' application of following God's instructions with very difficult choices.
I know I'm hung up on the thought of intentionally harming (killing) my own child - just because God told me to - and that's probably very near sighted. So I would LOVE to hear anyone with other stories like Joyn's with more practical examples so I can better digest the message. And I too look forward to Phil's message.
as i understand it, child sacrifices were in ancient times, a test of ultimate dedication to one's god. you can find references to the pagan practice of 'passing a child through the fire of molech' and such in the old testament. i believe this was a practice among civilizations as recent as the aztecs as well.
Well one good thing came out of this discussion. I got so weirded out by the whole sacrifice concept that I decided to take my oldest child (a daughter, but close enough) out to Snuffy's Malt Shop. A couple burgers - a basket of fries - and a couple of Fudge Scotchie Malts later and we're both feeling pretty good.
One thought came to me as I was watching the happiness in my daughters face as she slurped away her malt. I was thinking about how 'ridiculous' the thought of child sacrifice truly was - then it hit me. It was like God was telling me "No - you don't have to sacrifice that child. I already took care of that by sacrificing my own."
phil,
those are some good questions that i've asked myself as i've considered abraham's (& isaac's) act of faith.
some of my thoughts on abraham's knowing God's voice are:
1) he had been walking with the Lord at that time for over 100 years!
2) i suspect we could all have more clarity regarding God's voice under simpler circumstances, eg; rural environnment, slower lifestyle, no media frenzy, less demonic activity...etc.
regarding abraham's anticipating God would stop him from killing isaac:
i beleive we can assume abraham was fully prepared to go through with it. the reason being is, God (who knows every thought & intent of the heart) said afterward 'now i know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your only son from me'.
Regarding the thoughts & words exchanged on the way to the sacrafice:
it's a marvelous illustration from the fathers perspective of the passion. i imagine not many words spoken, other than those recorded. i also imagine severe anguish of soul, possibly to the point of sweating blood.
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