Urunga Uniting Church
Sunday 2 July 2017
Bible Readings in the Good News
Psalm – Psalm 13
1st Reading – Genesis 22:1-14
2nd Reading – Romans 6:12-23
Joyce G. Baldwin in her commentary on Genesis 12-50 writes this introductory paragraph to the Old Testament reading today.
Everyone who lives within earshot of the Filton area of Bristol is aware of the testing of aircraft engines. The whirring roar indicates that those powerful machines are being subjected to unusually severe conditions in order to be sure that, whatever the strains put upon them, they are thoroughly airworthy. People may subject themselves to extreme conditions in order to prove their capabilities, and Scripture reveals that testing is part of God’s education of his children so that they may come to maturity (James 1:2-4).
Baldwin, Joyce. G. 1986. The Bible Speaks Today: Genesis 12-50. (Reprinted 2009). (p. 90). Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press
While there is an element of testing of worthiness in conducting God’s business, there is also an element of terror about what Abraham is required to do and as an Anglican Parish Priest Gregory Jenks with the Anglican Diocese of Grafton writes;
When the international lectionary committee chose the readings for this week, they could never have guessed what else would be happening in our context here as this passage was read aloud in all the major churches across Australia today:
This week we have seen the data from last year’s national census. Among other things the census demonstrated a continued decline in the number of Australians who identify as Christians (now just 52%), while a record high number of people (30%) reported they do not have any religion at all.
Then, at week’s end, came the announcement that Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, has been charged with historical child sex offences and will face court later this month.
While George Pell must enjoy the presumption of innocence until a court determines otherwise, and while it is hardly news that fewer of our neighbours still share our faith, both those stories about religion in the national media this week sit very awkwardly alongside today’s reading from the Old Testament.
Genesis 22 is a ‘text of terror’ and it resonates darkly with the major religious headlines of the past few days.
An interesting fact about the sacrifice site, is the sacredness to three living religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
“Today, the great Dome of the Rock, third most sacred site of Islam, stands on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem where this sacrifice is said to have taken place.” According to Rev John Shearman of the United Church of Canada.
Mount Moriah is about 70 km from Beersheba.
Welcome, as I ponder the following words jump out; welcome, deliverance, righteousness, sacrifice and rewards for Pentecost 4.
The story of Genesis 12-50 is a history of one family, who lived in Northern Mesopotamia (Ancient Near East). These chapters cover four Jewish heroic ancestors.
· 12 chapters on Abraham
· 2 chapters on Isaac
· 9 chapters on Jacob
· 12 chapters on Joseph
These Jewish ancestors are commonly referred to the period of time known as the patriarchal and is consider to be the Middle Bronze Age around 2000 – 1500 BCE. The story of Abraham is found in Genesis 12-25 and todays read, chapter 22 focuses on Abraham is willingness to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God.
W. H. Griffith Thomas, an outstanding Bible teacher, preacher, lecturer and author from Canada and the United States in the early 1900, breaks the chapter up into 5 parts in his commentary Through the Pentateuch Chapter by Chapter (1982).
· Vv. 1-2: The Test
· Vv. 3-10 The Trial
· Vv. 11-14: The Triumph
· Vv. 15-19: The Testimony
· Vv. 20-24: The Tidings
Our portion of the chapter cover only the test, the trial and the triumph.
God has given Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac. Ishmael, born of a slave woman, has been banished, with his mother, Hagar. While Abraham’s line will continue through Isaac, Ishmael too will be a father of a nation. Put yourself in Abraham’s shoes, Ishmael has been banished and now God wants him to sacrifice Isaac. What terror goes through your mind and emotions trigger after being promised a blessing with Isaac?
The elements of this story is a tribal legend, Abraham hears God and answer immediately, always attentive to the voice of God. God gives Abraham instruction about his only son. Note the double emphasis about the son in verse 2, “Take your son, your only son Isaac...” The writer is clearly identifying which son was the son of Abraham. To take your son to the land of Moriah and as I have highlighted, the site is the sacredness to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Offer Isaac as a burnt offering. This is the test that Abraham was required to undertake.
So the trial and the journey begins, Abraham takes Isaac with two young men, no mention of Sarah involvement. I can imagine that she waves goodbye to her husband and her son as it would be a regular event in those time like my grandfather had taken my father to Sydney without my grandmother. Three days out, the writer mention that Abraham observe the place off in the distance and petition the young men to set up camp, while he and Isaac continues. Isaac then assist in conveying the timber for the burnt offering and Abraham carried the fire and the knife. Both are required to participate in the trial. A conversation takes place on the walk to the site and Isaac question his father about the sacrifice animal. A very isolated place is suggested, nothing around but his father replies “God himself will provide…” (v. 8). I would suggest that Isaac trusted his father’s answer and they continued their walk together. They came upon the site for the sacrifice, Abraham built an altar and laid the timber for the burnt offering. The trial is built around trust and obedience to the test that was given earlier. Abraham bound Isaac as directed by God, would we take this step or try to pray our way out. I cannot answer for you but I know there have been times in my life where I failed this step because of the consequences of following. The picture is set before us, Isaac is bounded upon the altar and Abraham is ready to observe by the ultimate sacrifice of the blessing he had received from God, to kill Isaac.
In that moment of Abraham position himself to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the Lord intercedes, calls out (v. 11). The triumph begins. The angel instructed Abraham that he is relieved from carrying out the sacrifice of his son Isaac. Again the double emphasis of the son, his only son is noted (v. 12) A substitute offering was made available through the provision of a ram caught in the bush. Abraham unbounded Isaac and the ram was sacrifice as a burnt offering (v. 13).
The crux of the story is God testing Abraham by demands that went clean contrary both to human reason and to the divine promise. My thoughts when I read this account was all blessing from God’s grace are given as a gift to us in custody and care to fulfils his plans. The blessing remains God and can be called upon by God. This is clearly demonstrated with Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac. The thought of ownership of God’s blessing remains with God in the same manner the earth is God and we are custodian and caretakers while we are journeying to the future.
Note that it was a personal test for Abraham, he was call by name. It was a lonely test; Sarah was not part of the test. How often as a couple, do we find yourself in similar situation of being tested alone?
In closing, Abraham faith was in a God who provides and commonly referred to Jehovah-Jireh, has become part of the church’s heritage. Two recent modern people, George Muller and Hudson Taylor are classic example of trust in God as the Provider. “So sure was George Muller of the call of God to the work of looking after orphans, and in the case of Hudson Taylor of extending the church of God in China to the inland provinces, they staked everything on the promise of God, the Lord will provide.” (Baldwin, 1986, p. 92)
Amen
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