THE ABRAHAM AND ISAAC STORY

On Sunday 20 February 2011, I sent out the following question to a small group by SMS. Please find below the feedback I got. I have deliberately left out the names of the commentators for obvious reasons.

First the question:

Could the story that Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son refer to physically killing Isaac? Just food for thought. I'd appreciate your insights. 

Now the 8 answers:

1.      I believe! 

2.      Well, so far I’ve seen the Abraham-Isaac story as mainly to show his implicit trust and obedience to The Almighty. It is not likely that The Almighty would demand human sacrifice.

3.      Adam and Eve did not eat an apple and Abram saw no ram.

4.      Obviously no. Not physical. The Lord would never ask such of anyone.

5.      Hello Sola. It is a beautiful allegorical illustration of Test of Faith. D story went further to show how Abraham was shown d ram as d alternative for such an act! D case of serpent and apple in d Garden of Eden is also another spiritual illustration although for different situation. From what we know of d Lord in His Commandment through Moses, He will never permit or even demand such physical sacrifice. Thank u for sharing.

6.      Who asked Abraham to offer the sacrifice? Certainly not the Almighty. Was it folk tale or reality? Methinks those are (the) pertinent questions!

7.      It was an ethereal experience for Abraham- not earthly!

8.      Nice one Sola!

I may be digressing a bit but just a thought; 

I believe God was referring to a physical killing. Many of us have an image of a God who is goody-two shoes and all Nice and can never ask us as He did of Abraham (i.e. ask something of you that will cause you pain or hurt). While God is not the author of evil or wickedness, He is Almighty and can do anything that He so pleases. The Bible says that He can get really jealous and that He is a consuming Fire….Do you know that God can allow certain “bad things” to happen to make a point or for whatever reason that He has chosen? Few can assume that God did not mean a physical killing because Abraham did not end up sacrificing His Son but what if He actually did? Would you and I believe any less in God because He allowed that? There are enough things that happen around us that make us look up to the Sky sometimes and wonder….Hmm God, but why? Think about the environmental disasters, murders, and abortions etc. that take place. Real lives are affected and destroyed by these occurrences. While some allow their faith in God to die alongside the tragedies that occur in their lives or around them some others actually still choose to believe in God all the more in spite of the pain and incomprehension of it all. Just a thought! I like what you are doing anyway….Keep it up! Warm Regards,

 

Your own views too are welcome. So please keep them coming…