Nougat 29

Having gone through the Promise, the House of God, the season of self; the Altars of Praise; what’s left? Today’s Holy Nougat offers us an interesting perspective.

“When they came to the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied up his son Isaac and laid him on top of the wood on the altar.” Genesis‬ ‭22:9‬ ‭GW‬‬

Even though I know the outcome, this is still exceptionally hard to read. It is easier to jump to the ‘happily ever after’ aspect of this passage (pericope), than to sit with it and learn the lessons. Or to critique it and then learn the lessons.

I am challenged by thinking that God would have required Abram now Abraham to kill his son; even as a test. If it was that he was asked to dedicate him to God Samuel-style, it makes sense … and therein lies one main lesson

Our expectations of God are NOT always the reality of God’s existential reality. God’s God-ness is not dependent on us. Moreover, what is asked of one in one situation is not always the same requirement of another.

(Further, Abraham doesn’t embark on THIS altar building by sharing ALL God said to him. Even Isaac, the original sacrifice, was not privy to the plan until the very last moment. We have to discern times and seasons. Regardless of it being an instruction that includes another; it may be prudent to wait)

In Abram-Abraham’s defense; the instruction received was not entirely uncommon to the era as we note that some generations later it surfaced among the sundry commandments. I think there was even a battle in the early period of nationhood that saw the enemy doing such a thing. He probably thought it weird, but not unlikely. Plus, we note that earlier he assured his son of God’s providence. He was convinced that God would either provide an alternative or restore Isaac.

Remember that Isaac WAS The Son of God’s Promise. Ishmael was the son of Abraham’s weak faith (he received the promise, he could have said No to Sarai, but he desired an heir and saw the surrogate – again a common enough practice in his day – as a potential solution. He had not yet gotten the local-regional traditions out of his system). Though it was inconceivable that God would take from Abraham the One Gift he had ever asked God for, Abraham‘s obedience suggests that He was also putting God to the test. In my obedience, I KNOW that You Lord will come through. In that moment, upon that mountain where he built the Fifth Altar, Abraham was practicing Radical Faith.

He had to go home with an explanation to Sarah. He had to have considered the effect on his relationship with Isaac. He could have been suffering from immense trauma himself. Much had happened since the last altar had been erected. He sacrificed Sarah to the neighboring ruler in exchange for his life a second time (despite knowing God’s plan for her); he prayed/negotiated Lot’s salvation from Sodom & Gomorrah; he sired Ishmael and almost lost him twice; and Isaac, the very offering he was placing on the altar, was born to his barren elderly wife!

Given all those and whatever else we might have missed or overlooked (like his name change/conversion); it is possible that Abraham knew that God IS Supreme. He also felt that there was naught else to offer as Isaac was the only thing left to lose. Whatever went on in his mind; he gave to God his most precious gift.

And therein lies the point; when we have run out of options, it’s time to give God our ALL! I pray God’s Grace to discern what we are withholding from God.

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May all we seek be found in Christ