Abraham To Sacrifice Isaac

This has been quite a journey for me preparing for today's lesson. I love this calling as it pushes me to explore things that I'd rather pretend didn't exist. I have to push aside what I thought I understood and be open to working towards a new understanding.

I was excited to give the lesson today. The kids (14-15 yr olds) were great and seemed to get as into it as I did. I asked them if they thought it was cruel for God to use Isaac to test Abraham especially when God already knew Isaac would be faithful. They all had answers. I asked how they thought Isaac was feeling. Would they be able to sacrifice something they loved dearly?

During this week's preparation, this is what I learned and then discussed with the kids:

How we perceive sacrifice today is different than in ancient times. We sacrifice time and money plus other things. Ancient culture was used to live-animal sacrifice, and some cultures used human sacrifices. Although Abraham and his culture didn't do human sacrifices, it wasn't unheard of with cultures around him. They were conditioned to the concept of it.

Abraham had great faith. Okay, I knew that, but this next scripture quote really sent it home for me:

Hebrews Chapter 11:

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall they seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

So, how I understand this scripture (and the Abrahamic Covenent) is Abraham thinks, "Okay, God, you promised me I would have many seed through Isaac. I trust you. I know you are able to raise him from the dead to fulfill that promise if needs be."

Wouldn't that faith be comforting? Do you think if Abraham was comforted, then Isaac would also trust? I wonder what Abraham said to Isaac to keep him calm (scriptures don't indicate a struggle to be bound, Gen. 22:1-13). I wonder if he told him everything would be okay, and he would live one day to have many offspring. I imagine Abraham was a good father to Isaac, and Isaac trusted him as Abraham trusted God.

God knew Abraham would be faithful, but Abraham had to learn that about himself. This faith was also an example to Isaac.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his precious son as our Father in Heaven was willing to sacrifice His.

I've come to peace with this story. I still don't understand why Sarah gave Abraham to Hagar (other than it was customary to have concubines when wives were barren). Was she impatient to have a child? Did she not have faith? I thought it was sad to send off Ishmael away from his father. It wasn't his fault that Abraham conceived him with Hagar. I'll have to save that for another time.

Cultural Differences

Here's just some follow-up comments to my last post where I am unsettled about the incest in Genesis. I asked if God would endorse incest.

I was reading an Ensign article, "Christ & Culture in the Old Testament." These sentences stood out to me:

"As we approach a study of the Old Testament, many of us may have to overcome conditioning that leads us to look at this rich volume of scripture through the lens of our own culture. Otherwise, imposing modern cultural understandings on a society that existed thousands of years ago will make the Old Testament seem strange or out of touch...We cannot appreciate and understand the Bible if we remove it from its own context and place it in our modern culture. Rather, we have to change our mind-set to better understand the ancient way of life."

My modern mind equates incest with abuse. That probably wasn't the case back then. Incest was the culture in ancient times. Partakers may not have felt at odds with it. Maybe it was necessary due to lack of suitable partners.

I don't like when some people today use the scriptures as an excuse to abuse others, i.e. it's in the Bible, therefore it must be okay. (Yeah, I have issues).

Anyway, this insight on cultural differences is helping me prepare for Sunday's lesson about Abraham obeying God's command to sacrifice Isaac. I initially imagined it through Isaac's eyes and how terrified he must have been, his father is about to kill him because God told him to. One: I thought it was a cruel thing for God to do to a child, and Two: how many quacks in modern history try to pull off a crime by saying God told him to do it?

Maybe Isaac wasn't terrified. Maybe he was honored and had complete, sweet trust in his father just as Abraham had trust in his Heavenly Father. Sacrifice was the norm in ancient history. Most were animal sacrifices, but there were parallel societies that offered human sacrifices, so it wasn't unheard of. Abraham, himself, was almost sacrificed as a lad.

I'm trying to understand, I really am.

Penthouse or Pent-tent?

We've been counseled to refuse pornography. I think I'm going to have to include the book of Genesis. I'm just joking, of course, but there is some raunchy stuff in there! Incest is rampant, concubines, and let's not forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their inhabitants wanting to get to know everybody (gee, how friendly!). I posted about Adam and Eve and about me coming to terms that if A&E are literal, there just HAD to have been others for their kids to mate with; it just hasn't been revealed, yet. I mean, God wouldn't endorse incest, right?!?

Just as I was getting into the scriptures and "feasting upon the word" and feeling like I was learning something meaningful, I get tripped-up, again, with the incest and it being all "okay" and normal. Did you know Abraham and Sarah were half-brother and sister sharing the same father (Genesis 20)? And the widower, Lot, was molested by his two spinster daughters so they could continue his seed (Gen. 19: 31-38). Lot did "pitch his tent" towards Sodom when he and his Uncle Abraham moved to the land. Who knows what those girls saw being raised near Sodom that made them think it was okay to get their dad drunk and rape him. Their mother probably wasn't a good example; she "looked back" and didn't want to let go of her sinning ways and turned into a pillar of salt.

Deep breath in....hold it...let it out. Let it go, Gina. It's okay. Try to get the BIG PICTURE and its message. Clear your mind as you prepare this week to lead a discussion next Sunday about Abraham believing he has to sacrifice Isaac (his nephew...er...son...whatever).

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Too Busy, Too Tired

I wish I had something insightful and meaningful to post. I'm tired. It's been a very busy week. I have been preparing for my next Sunday school lesson on the Abrahamic Covenant. I'm not sure I can fill 45 minutes on that. We aren't even discussing circumcision (a major token of the Abrahamic Covenant). I guess it isn't appropriate for 14-15 year olds...very personal...already self-conscious...not that I would ask...maybe it's just something they aren't supposed to visualize during class...or maybe someone may blurt out something hurtful about it. Who knows?

I can't get excited about the lesson. Maybe I just don't have the spirit with me this week. It's been tough emotionally. I have felt dark at times. Lack of sleep could be the major culprit. Yet, here I am at 10:30 p.m. writing. I really haven't been reaching out to Heavenly Father.

Last Sunday, my teaching companion taught about Noah. I had a few Yeah, right!'s going through my head. I should talk about it; that's what this blog is about. I won't, too little brain power. I just try to focus on what the message is and what I need to learn from it. This Old Testament stuff can be a testimony-breaker, though. I need this challenge; it's going to be really good for me, I know.

Happy Valentine's Day!