Genesis 21-25:18
About the Reading:
We first read about the birth of Isaac, the son promised to him by God. We quickly learn again of Sarah’s jealousy towards Hagar and Ishmael as she tells Abraham to drive them away; yet, again, God protects them.
We learn of the oath made between Abraham and Abimelech which Abraham swears to not act treacherously towards him or his family.
In chapter 22 we start off with the story of God calling Abraham and telling him to take Isaac, his long awaited son, to an alter in Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering to God. Abraham, without question, does as God asks of him.
God stops Abraham at the last minute, before he kills Isaac, and then Abraham gets a ram who is stuck in a nearby bush to sacrifice and offer to God.
In chapter 23, we begin with the death of Sarah. Abraham mourns her and asks for a tomb to bury her. He ends up wanting a cave from Ephron. Abraham pays him for the land and thus buries Sarah there.
Abraham sends his senior servant to go back to his native land to get a wife for Isaac. He has the servant swear that the woman will come from that land but he is to never bring Isaac to that land. There, he asks God to give him a specific sign that he will know the right girl. He finds Rebekah.
She goes with him back to his master and, upon seeing Isaac, covers herself. Isaac marries her.
At the end of the reading, we learn of the death of Abraham and his burial in the same field as Sarah. Then we learn of the death of Ishmael.
My Thoughts and Notes:
I love the verses Genesis 21:6-7
Sarah said: God has given me cause to laugh! all who hear about this will laugh with me!
She added: Whoever would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children! Yet I have borne a son in his old age.
I want to do exactly what she says and just laugh! Don’t you? You can hear they joy in what she says.
One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the one of Abraham willing to offer Isaac to God as a burnt offering. I’m not sure what about it resonates with me, but it does. I have very clear memories of sitting in fourth grade as we read this story for the first time. Even then I knew what an amazing gift this was.
Abraham waited for a very long time for Isaac and then God tells him to offer him as a sacrifice to Him. More amazing than that, Abraham was very willing to do it! He gets up there, he has Isaac on the alter, he is seconds away from sacrificing him!
That is sacrificing for our God. That is amazing. How many of us would do that? I’d like to say I would; but I know that I am human and sometimes struggle with this.
I also love the story of Rebekah and how the servant finds her. It makes me think of a sappy love story. Do you know what I mean? I just love that she so willingly goes with the servant and, upon seeing Isaac, just seems to know and gets off her camel to cover herself for him. Am I a hopeless romantic, or is that as mushy and romantic as it plays out in my head?
What do you think of today’s readings? What would be the most difficult thing for you to sacrifice for God?
I have always had a hard time with this reading. It is incredibly hard for me to imagine sacrificing one of my children up for God and I can't imagine God asking, see that is the hard part for me too, I just can't believe God would put a parent through such pain and agony. Just a tough reading for me to swallow.
ReplyDeleteSo Isaac was born. A son of laughter. I remember the first time I held my daughter, there was such joy in my heart that I laughed.
ReplyDeleteThen God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. The son God had promised him, the one Abraham had waited so long for. Yet, Abraham gathered up Isaac and the wood and headed off the sacrifice him. I think what we need to learn here, is that NOTHING is to come before God in our lives. Not even our children. And sometimes he wants us to prove it.
Again, we see how Abraham deals wisely with Ephron in buying the burial ground for Sarah.
I love the way wives were found for son's in those days. Some day, when I get to heaven, I want to hear the story from Rebekah. I'd love to know her side of the story.
Sarah died and Abraham remarried and had six more children (and sons by his concubines, too). I've always wondered why they are not mentioned more than these few verses.
Abraham died and was buried by Sarah. How wonderfully blessed was this man, who was far from perfect but who had lots of faith.
I heard a story from a priest once who was telling us about one of his parishoners. This man had an amazing record collection that was worth thousands of dollars. It was this man's THING. You know, the one thing that means so much to you that you would be very heartbroken and upset should it be taken from you? I mean, it's not a person, but I can totally relate. This man had these records that he had been collecting from childhood. They were in pristine condition. He came to a point in his life in which he knew that he would have to give them up...for God. He didn't hold on to them, he didn't even sell them for the money. This man GAVE THEM AWAY! He gave them away to people he didn't even know. To me, that relates a bit to what Abraham did.
ReplyDeleteI had a very good friend that had lots of 'things' that she treasured. Many of them were inherited from her grandmother. She became convicted that God wanted her to get rid of them. As much as she hated to, she gave them all away. It was very hard on her, but she knew it would be harder on her to keep them. She donated them all to a Christian organization. She said that in doing that she was giving them to God. Although it was hard for her to do, she was greatly blessed for her faithfulness.
ReplyDelete