Genesis 22:1-19 - The Patriarchal Narratives: Events or Myths?
Genesis 22:1-19 presents a compelling argument for the authenticity of the patriarchal narratives, challenging the notion that they are merely mythological constructs. By examining various instances where key figures go against established values and guidelines, the text raises questions about the historical accuracy of these accounts. Through a critical analysis of the actions of Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Judah, and others, the narrative forces a reconsideration of the true nature of these foundational stories.
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Genesis 22:1-19 = todays text Genesis 22 provides one of reasons I believe the patriarchal narratives are events that really occurred That they were not, as many scholars claim, made up by some later writer creating a mythological history to justify the existence of Israel Who makes up a justifying history in which all of the forefathers and foremothers go against so many key values and guidelines of their tribe/nation?
A Few Examples: Living against Torah values #1 Abram is married to his half-sister which is forbidden & leads to excommunication in Lev. 18:9-11 and 20:17 (Renee last week) Sarah abuses and Abram sends away a slave wife with his child forbidden by Deut 21:14 Jacob marries two sisters forbidden Lev 18:18 Jacob elevates a second wife above a first wife forbidden Deut 24:3 Jacob sets up stone pillars for worship (Gen 28:18,22; 35:14, 20 ) forbidden Lev 26:1
A Few Examples: Living against Torah values #2 Judah has a child by his daughter-in-law forbidden Lev. 18:15; 20:12 Lot s grandchildren are also Lot s sons incest forbidden Lev 18:6 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all 3 pre-empt the rights of their firstborn son for a favorite son forbidden - Deut 21:15-17 TODAY offering of Isaac to God/gods forbidden in Lev. 18:21 and Deut 12:31; 18:10 and all following Jewish and Christian history
Genesis 22:1-19 - as though you never heard as though you never heard it before, it before, and it is really happening #1 1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 God said, "Please,(Heb. - na)Take your son, your only son, Isaac, the one you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.
Genesis 22:1-19 - as though you never heard as though you never heard it before it before, and it is really happening #2 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
Genesis 22:1-19 - as though you never heard as though you never heard it before, it before, and it is really happening #3 7Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
Genesis 22:1-19 - as though you never heard as though you never heard it before it before, and it is really happening #4 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
Genesis 22:1-19 - as though you never heard as though you never heard it before, it before, and it is really happening #5 15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer- sheba.
WHO ARE THE VULNERABLE PERSONS IN THIS ACCOUNT ?
SARAH SARAH a very vulnerable person. One of the uniformed, disregarded, lied to UNINFORMED? NOT EVEN CONSIDERED? DISREGARDED? LIED TO? Vulnerable to so much Pain! Joy?!
ISAAC ISAAC unimaginably vulnerable #1 one of those CAUGHT UP IN OTHER PEOPLE S AGENDAS and CAUSES CAUGHT UP IN OTHER PEOPLE S AGENDAS and CAUSES - already his life was an experience of a very dominant mother in his life; -also one experiencing the favored/gifted child syndromes -also leave guilt about how his older brother was treated and abandoned because of him - now fear for life? - What kind of father is Abraham? - What kind of God does his father follow?
ISAAC ISAAC unimaginably vulnerable #2 -may have been positively impacted with outcome of this event joy at being alive. - had to have been terrified and traumatized with the process, nightmares for life? - becomes a fairly passive father of Israel (rarely initiates) SO VULNERABLE to SO MUCH PAIN and CONFUSION! JOY?!
Abraham: WHEN THE GOD WE TRUST SEEMS WHEN THE GOD WE TRUST SEEMS TO MAKE NO SENSE TO MAKE NO SENSE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES - Do you love Abraham, or hate him, or just shake your head for this act of faith and faithfulness? - WHY WOULD HE DO IT? - NOT BECAUSE HE DOES NOT LOVE HIS CHILD AS MUCH AS WE DO! take your son, your only son, Isaac, the one you love - perhaps more than many parents did, do or can (Genesis 22:1-2)
WHY WOULD ABRAHAM DO IT? WHY WOULD ABRAHAM DO IT? #1 Why? Not because - Other people around him are sacrificing their children Why? Not because - Mindless Obedience nor Terrifying Fear of Arguing with God (neither have been his way of relating to YHWH) The PAIN & VULNERABILITY must be excruciating! God is taking the gift that has made all the risks worthwhile to Abraham.
WHY WHY WOULD ABRAHAM DO IT SO VULNERABLE TO SO MUCH HURT! same voice as that he has staked his entire adult life on go to a place I will show you (12:1-3) -Only TRUST in a Deep Interpersonal Relationship allows anyone to put all on the line in trusting the other person -Only TRUST that YHWH s covenant-relationship with Abraham is solid so solid that YHWH would rather not exist than not continue this relationship with Abraham (Gen 15) would allow Abraham to lay all on the line to keep this relationship intact. DO IT? #2 take you family/son -
WHY WOULD ABRAHAM DO IT? #3 Only the understanding that all other relationships and life itself would lose their meaning if this relationship ends Giver gives the Gifts meaning. Only not being able to imagine life without this relationship, without this trust, can possible move Abraham For better or worse, too much has been staked on this relationship for Abraham to bail out now.
VULNERABILITY RISK - FINALLY ALLOWS A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP FINALLY ABRAHAM S VULNERABILITY & RISK FINALLY LEAD TO NEW JOY AND TRUST for Abraham! AND, God is now ready to TRUST ABRAHAM and MOVE FORWARD in God s Plan to Create Israel and then to SAVE HUMANITY FROM ITSELF
THIS DOES NOT MEAN GOD NOT MEAN GOD FEELS CLOSE DURING THIS VULNERABILITY! FEELS CLOSE DURING THIS VULNERABILITY!!! Hint of this far away feeling in author s use of God/Elohim in 22:1-10 instead of YHWH Only returns to YHWH/LORD in 22:11ff when Abraham s hand has been stilled by the voice from heaven Compare Jesus who mostly prayed to Father, but on the cross when God does not feel close, prays My God, My God, why have you forsaken me. Jesus, event was not stopped joy is even later in event
QUESTION? QUESTION? As we have lived through this event together DO YOU FIND GOD EXCITING & AWESOME? Does GOD SEEM GOOD and JUST? Or DO YOU FIND YOURSELF WANTING TO HATE GOD & SHY FAR AWAY From this GOD of Abraham? DOES GOD SEEM DEMONIC? *It will depend on
IT DEPENDS ONWHETHER OR NOT WHETHER OR NOT (#1) GOD/LORD: Is the Most Vulnerable Person in this event & in human history, or is beyond the risk, pain, and hurt. GOD/LORD: Is the most at risk Person in this event or not GOD/LORD: God is experiencing everything Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah are and more!!!
DEPENDS ONWHETHER OR NOT #2 *IF GOD IS NOT A SUFFERING and HEART-BROKEN GOD, Also able to BE PLEASED, Able to REJOICE, fully-at-risk- God who is VULNERABLE TO ALL THAT WE HUMANS think, do, and do not do then God is NOT GOOD!
THE GOD/LORD of GENESIS GENESIS HAS BEEN GRIEVING THE CHOICES MADE BY HUMANS FOR MANY GENERATIONS HAS MANY REASONS TO DOUBT WHETHER ABRAHAM IS GOING TO COME THROUGH in THEIR RELATIONSHIP -runs from the land -causes trouble for Pharaoh & Abimelech impregnates Hagar to please Sarah - lets Sarah abuse Hagar - laughs and tries to hide it when God says he will have a son - Will God s best shot (Abraham) be enough?
THE GOD OF ABRAHAM & OF JESUS THE GOD OF ABRAHAM & OF JESUS IS A GOD WHO KNOWS ALL DEEP RELATIONSHIPS ARE FULL OF RISKS, POTENTIAL FOR HEART-BREAK, and POTENTIAL FOR UNIMAGINABLE JOY! WILLING TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL A GOD WHO GRIEVES and WEEPS with a BROKEN HEART A GOD WHO EXCLAIMS: MY CHILD HAS COME HOME: LET S START THE PARTY! Joy and Delight
THE GOD OF ABRAHAM & OF JESUS #2 A GOD WHO WONDERS will I ever find a human I can trust to work to bless the world as I want to bless the world? A GOD WHO says to ABRAHAM PLEASE, take your son , the one you love A GOD WHO says: -to ABRAHAM AFTER KNIFE NOW I KNOW our relationship means as MUCH TO YOU as it DOES TO ME! -To JESUS AFTER EXECUTION: YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, TODAY I ENTHRONE YOU
EXPLORE NOW I KNOW NOW I KNOW Gen 22:12 Kye s sermon 1 Corinthians 8:3 but anyone who loves God is known by God. SUDDENLY Years of teaching know in Bible means not just intellectual knowing, but EXPERIENCIAL KNOWING!! I FACED believe that we can experience (know God)! God/us? SUDDENLY HEARD Biblical Claims: - Anyone who loves GOD is being experienced by God (1 Cor 8:3) - Now I have experienced that you reverence God (no matter the risk) Gen 22:12 - A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF BY GOD! JOY!
BEGAN TO POP UP OFTEN IN BIBLE 1 Cor 13:12 -12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I experience (know) God only in part; then I will experience (know God) fully, even as I have been fully experienced (known by God). John 10:14-15 -14I am the good shepherd. I experience (know) my own and my own experience (know) me,15just as the Father experiences (knows) me and I experience (know) the Father. (That is why) I lay down my life for the sheep.
BIT BY BIT SLOWLY TRANSFORMING MY DAILY LIFE God experiences me-you-us day by day, choice by choice, act by act, thought by thought I, Who have never been particularly motivated by you ought or you are expected to
REALIZING BIT by BIT Every choice, act, thought Can Please and Delight God just like in my other relationships. GOD EXPERIENCES EACH OF THEM! Can Hurt and Disappoint God just like in my other relationships. GOD EXPERIENCES EACH OF THEM! God is as Vulnerable and at risk to my daily choices, acts, thoughts - my attempts to be faithful or not Just as I am Vulnerable and at Risk in my attempts to be faithful and Trust God day by day
COMMUNION PRAYER: me, you you, our Fellowship Fellowship, human race for me human race GOD HOW CAN YOU DARE TO BE SO AT RISK in CARING, EXPERIENCING VULNERABLITY - to me, - to these brothers and sisters, - to us as a Fellowship, - to us humans? Help us remember that YOU are EXPERIENCING our choices, actions, thoughts, with great joys and great hurts! That we can hurt you. That we can please you and bring you great joy! Please (na), Don t Give Up on Us Lord
