Abraham and Isaac

Two weeks ago my pastor preached on Genesis 22, where Abraham is commanded to offer Isaac up to God as a sacrifice. He made a number of great points about the facts of the story that are often overlooked, and I would like to talk about them, since the implications of Abraham’s actions are huge for those who count themselves as sons and daughters of Abraham.

Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and had no children when God promised him a son. Not just a son, but that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the night sky. Genesis 15:7 states that “…he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Again, Abraham is old, Sarah is old, and God makes a crazy promise to his faithful servant. Believing in God’s promises and living in light of them is righteousness.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Abraham and Sarah have their promised son at the ripe old age of 100. Then, when Isaac is probably 8 or 10 years old, God tested Abraham. “Take you son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah , and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” What?!? The shock of this command for most people is that God is asking Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son. We completely overlook the fact that God hasn’t really given Abraham very good directions. Essentially, all Abraham knows is that he is supposed to head off, that way, to the mountains in the land of Moriah, and sacrifice your son. We also overlook the fact that Abraham was faithful, and believed that God will be faithful to His promises.

When Isaac asks Abraham in Genesis 22:7, where the sacrificial lamb is, Abraham replies that God will provide it. And God does provide. Abraham is stopped at the last moment from sacrificing his son, and God provides a ram caught in a thicket for the sacrifice instead. God then declared to Abraham that because of his great faithfulness, truly his descendants will be as great as the stars in the heavens or the sand upon the seashore. More than that though, through Abraham’s descendants all nations on earth will be blessed because of His obedience. In God’s words lay the truth of the Christian life. Often times we wonder how we will be blessed, not how we will be a blessing to others. Abraham’s blessing was never realized in his lifetime. He did not seek to be great, he sought to be faithful and righteous and God made him great because of these things. Do we do the same?

There is a lot in this story. But perhaps, the biggest thing we overlook in it comes from Genesis 22:14. “Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the Lord, it will be provided.’” In the mountains of Moriah, there is one where the Lord provided for Abraham, and provided for all of us today. Centuries after Abraham was tested, his descendants would be led out of Egypt by Moses. Forty years after being led out, they would be led into the land of Canaan; the land God promised Abraham. They would conquer the town of Jerusalem, nestled in the mountains of Moriah (Joshua 10:1-15). Centuries after the conquest, a wise king would build a temple for the Lord on the Mount of Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1). Finally, after years of faithlessness, disobedience, exile and return, God would once again provide for His people. He would send his one and only son, whom He loved (Matt 3:17), to die for the sins of the world, on the mountain where he once provided for His faithful servant, Abraham.

When God tested Abraham, he did so, knowing that he would not cause Isaac’s blood to be spilt on the mountain of Moriah, because He would, one day, send His own son to be the atoning sacrifice and redemption for the sins of His people, and the world. Abraham’s faithfulness and obedience to God thousands of years ago put into motion a plan to redeem all of creation. Truly, through Abraham, we are blessed with the salvation and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiasties 9:11

During my fourth semester of Hebrew, we were required to complete 5 devotionals in which we would translate a verse of the Old Testament and give the context and application of the verse. Below is my work on Ecclesiastes 9:11.

I turned to see under the sun that the race is not to the swift ones, nor is the battle to the mighty. Also, bread is not to the wise and also riches are not to the discerning ones. Also favor is not to the skilled, but time and chance will befall all of them.

 

Biblical Context:

            This verse touches on a main theme in the book of Ecclesiastes, that life is absurd and often doesn’t make sense. There is no guarantee of immediate success. Of course, often times the fastest runner will win the race, and the intelligent and discerning will acquire favor and food and riches, but this is not always the case because there are millions with unrecognized abilities. Furthermore, skill, strength, wisdom and knowledge cannot alter the onset of trouble, hard times, or calamity.

Life application:

            Christians sometimes have an unrealistic optimism in their faith. If they do everything right everything will be ok – nothing bad will happen. There is the tendency to reduce faith and what it means to be faithful to a formula. Therefore, when something bad does happen, their faith is shaken. God makes no such promises in the Old Testament, or the New. We need to be realistic about our human limitations, and what faith in Christ means. We cannot control others, only ourselves especially when dealing with the ideals of a secular world. We will encounter those who do not wish us well, but rather seek to harm us. We will encounter illness, financial troubles, and death. We will not always win while walking this earth, but rather we should turn our eyes heavenward and wait for the day when all our deeds, skills and abilities, good and bad, will be acknowledged before our Creator. We cannot trust in this world, but in the one who created it.

            Matthew 10:22 picks up on this theme. Jesus has come to save the world, and is sending his commissioned ambassadors to spread the good news of what He has done. They should be warmly received right? Wrong. "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to to the end who will be saved." Matthew explains that to be a Christian is to place yourself in the hands of the Creator in an unsafe and tumultuous world. We are called to be representatives of Christ, in all places, to all peoples. We have the good news about the bread of life! But we may still starve. We travel to reveal the known God to the world, and we will still suffer and be killed. While we live on this earth, we are subject to time and chance. We may not finish the race first, but as long as we finish, great things await us.

Not all who Wander are Lost

I like to wander. I like to explore.

I have wandered across oceans and countries. I have wandered through crowded cities and sparse villages, through dense forests and across wide plateaus, to the top of mountains and into the valleys below.

In December 2011, I finally finished my M.A. degree in Old Testament Biblical Studies at Denver Seminary. As I pursued said degree I did so without quite knowing where it would lead. The hardest question for a seminary graduate to answer is, "What are you going to do with that?" For the longest time, I had no clue. However I have discovered that God is leading me to use my degree to write and encourage others in their faith. If we say we are Christians, then what we mean is that we are striving to emulate Christ is everything we do; at work, at play, at church, and not at church. This blog will reflect what I am researching and learning about Scripture, and the implications of truly allowing the Word of God to change your life. Even the Old Testament word. Yes, the Old Testament is still the Word of God and it is still useful to form and shape Christians today. Want proof? Keep reading!

I do not know where God will take me from here. He has not given me a detailed map, but rather a compass, and a heading.
And if I continue in His will, then I will never be lost.