Birth and Sacrifice

Genesis 21

The birth of the long awaited son: Abraham is now 100 years old. Abram is now Abraham. There is more to this story than we have read. Sarah finds herself ‘nursing a child’ against all odds and in Abraham’s old age and they name him Isaac, which means he laughs. We don’t read today how she laughed when God said she would bear a child, thinking to herself that in her advanced age, after having been barren all her life that ‘now I will have children-sure right.’ (She says sarcastically.) But today we do see that she says that God made laughter for her, interesting to see that even though Sarai was skeptical God turned that sarcasm to joyous laughter.

Another day we will need to go back and read how and why Sarai and Abram became Sarah and Abraham. This is obviously only part of the story.

We next see that Abraham obeys God and circumcises Isaac. We don’t read where God told Abraham to do that but we see that Abraham is following directions. Yet next we see that there is trouble, there is trouble between Sarah and Hagar, and Sarah and Ishmael, and trouble between Sarah and Abraham. Sarah is not pleased that Abraham has another child not born to Sarah his wife but to Hagar an Egyptian slave. There is a LOT more to this story. We have seen where Abraham has taken matters into his own hands when he travelled in Egypt and told the Pharaoh that Sarai was his ‘sister’ it makes me wonder what has happened here. What is the back story? I will have to look into that another day.

No matter how Abraham has treated this woman and his child, God protects her and the young one. God does not abandon them and an angel of the lord watches over them. That gives us something to think about in our lives when we feel we have been mistreated, when people or circumstances go against us; the Lord does not.

The story of the well and Abimelech (great name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?) and we see that Abimelech doesn’t trust Abraham. It could be that Abimelech isn’t a very savory character, or is wary of Abraham, but we do see a hint that Abimelech doesn’t believe Abraham has dealt fairly or won’t; for why else would he make Abraham swear not to deal falsely with him? Abraham does swear and makes a vow to be straight with Abimelech, so we can gather than Abraham believed Abimelech had a right to ask such a thing of him.

Genesis 22:1-19

“…After these things…” well I see there is more between 21 where we left off, or perhaps this just means after the oath and covenant that Abraham made with Abimelech, either way God says take your only son Isaac-you know the one you waited 100 years for, the one through whom I said I would make you a great nation-yes that one, and offer him as a burnt offering. WHAT? WHY? I am really wondering what’s going on here. However Abraham takes Isaac and the necessary supplies to make a burnt offering.

And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

I could really sit here for a long time with this sentence. Isaac trustingly asking where is the lamb? Abraham answering God will provide his own lamb. Whose own? Not Abraham’s? God’s? Sacrifice?

But what happens? This is incredible. God DOES provide His own lamb (ok, well a ram) this is a story that captures our attention how is this question asked? How is it answered? How is Abraham able to say yes to this heart-wrenching question? Yet he does, and we see God honors that answer, in a way that Abraham couldn’t have foreseen. What I see happening is now God the “God of Abraham” is now the God of Isaac. God intervened directly in Isaac’s situation. Sure WE know that God was the one that caused Isaac to be born in the beginning (remember we read that God did for Sarah what he had promised-and that she who had been childless had a son to nurse in her old age?) but Isaac can’t remember that. Even if his parents told him that story, it isn’t his story it isn’t his God it is still the God of Abraham and the God of Sarah.

But NOW this God-their God, is his own God a God who cares for him and protects him. When the Lord called from heaven “Abraham!” it is a really good thing Abraham was listening. Now maybe he was waiting as long as he could hoping for some miracle reprieve, or maybe he was waiting for some unknown way out, but here he has an answered hope, and actual miracle, and his son lives. He is a gift a second time to Abraham and Sarah. How Abraham’s heart must have soared to see that ram in the thicket! I can totally see him offering a great thanksgiving to the Lord.

Now let’s look again at that oath Abraham swore with Abimelech, he gave his word and exchanged ewe lambs in order that it would be a sign between them. Now let’s look at God’s oath, what does he give? He gives a son. What does He swear-He swears by Himself. The Lord doesn’t need to give testimony, the Lord doesn’t deal falsely. His word is true. Abraham opened the promise for his family by believing the Lord and obeying Him. Would that I do that today.

See you tomorrow.

-maggie