| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
richard
Moderator
Joined: 08 Oct 2002
Posts: 1129
Location: Lynchburg, VA
|
 Posted: 25 Aug, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject: Holy Is The Lord some more |
 |
|
Not long ago I read the following linked article.
Playing with Knives: God the Dangerous
In the article (which is really quite good, though not all here will think so) the author writes regarding Abraham's response to God's command for him to sac rifice his son, Isaac,
| Quote: |
| almost always, we see Abraham portrayed in the sacrifice episode as distraught, grief-stricken, and faithless. One commentator says that this was a "heart-rending trial" and another says that "the words `take now thy son, thy only son Isaac' gripped Abraham's heart." Another says that "Abraham anguished" over the loss of his son. I once watched an actor portray an account of Abraham in which the actor wept and wept over the command to kill his son. |
I immediately thought of Andy's (and Ben's!) song, where he sings, "and the answer was a sword that came down hard upon my heart" and "Maker of this mountain, please, make another way".
Clearly, in this song, Abraham is presented in much the same way the author of the article is criticizing.
But, the author responds to such an image of Abraham,
| Quote: |
| But the text doesn't give any of these responses. Why do we accept them? We are little unitarian Jobs. Abraham was truly tested; the text says that. But we have no hint of anguish or weeping. Why couldn't Abraham's faith be pictured as victorious and bold? He might have gone whistling up the mountain without a hint of anguish, because He knew the character of God. The character of God overflows any void. |
Afterall, he says, Abraham was confident that his son would be raised from the dead (Hebrews 11). Abraham didn't think there would be a great amount of time where he would be without his son, for he told those that he was with that they... both he and his son Isaac, would be back after the sacrifice.
So should we represent Abraham as being sorrowful in this incident? I can, of course, recognize a deep, deep anguish that one would go through were he to have to kill his own son. Putting a knife to his neck, and slicing it open. Seeing all the life flow out from him. I can't imagine such a thing. But, would it really be that horrible a thing if we knew that God would raise Him up right after he had fallen? Is the pain and revolt we feel in thinking about doing such a thing the result of a lack of faith?
I think no.
The author of the article also references the antitype of this typological incident - the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God killed His own son, and it was a horrible gruesome thing. There was no holding back for Jesus, no putting the knife down, no lamb in the thicket.
But, as Andy sings , "Isn't it love to look down from the sky and see Your only Son on the cross asking why and somehow let Him die that way and not call the whole thing off"
Jesus was the lamb in the thicket. Our Lamb. And He died so that, through Him, the world might be saved.
God is good.
Last edited by richard on 25 Aug, 2004 1:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Andrew_Peterson
Administrator
Joined: 02 Feb 2002
Posts: 902
Location: Nashville, TN
|
| Posted: 25 Aug, 2004 1:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Man, great words, Richard. I think that to imagine Abraham whistling up the mountain with Isaac is a little implausible. True, he had faith that God would raise his son, but like you said, slitting your boy's throat with a knife? Deep faith does not make one impervious to human emotion. The author asked why Abraham's faith couldn't be pictured as victorious and bold. As a father, I can hardly imagine anything more victorious and bold than Abraham taking those heavy steps up the mountain with his son's hand in his own, knowing what he was about to do. Faith is not an attitude. Faith is climbing the mountain, being obedient in spite of what our senses tell us; faith is getting up out of bed even when you feel like there's no point, because you're holding on for dear life to God's promise that your life is dear to Him. Like Buechner said, faith is a hand in the dark, and you reach for it. It's not just feeling happy as a lark while you kill your little boy.
Just my thoughts.
AP |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
richard
Moderator
Joined: 08 Oct 2002
Posts: 1129
Location: Lynchburg, VA
|
| Posted: 25 Aug, 2004 1:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
[s:936f990cac]Yeah, I'm inclinded to agree with you, Andy.[/s:936f990cac]
I agree with you, Andy. That's some deep wisdom.
I especially like this sentence, "I can hardly imagine anything more victorious and bold than Abraham taking those heavy steps up the mountain with his son's hand in his own, knowing what he was about to do." |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bncampbell
Member
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 528
Location: Hannibal, MO
|
| Posted: 25 Aug, 2004 2:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Faith is not an attitude. Faith is climbing the mountain, being obedient in spite of what our senses tell us; faith is getting up out of bed even when you feel like there's no point, because you're holding on for dear life to God's promise that your life is dear to Him. Like Buechner said, faith is a hand in the dark, and you reach for it. |
Wow.
That's all.
_________________
Napoleon Dynamite : Too bad, she said she doesn't want you here when she gets back because you've been ruining everybody's lives and eating all our steak.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JP from NC
Member
Joined: 04 Oct 2002
Posts: 1468
Location: Greensboro, NC
|
| Posted: 25 Aug, 2004 5:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
this is what i needed to hear. thanks ap/rich ... thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group |
© 2007 Andrew Peterson. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
