Short Devotion: Fear of Isaac

Genesis 22:12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (NIV)

            It was one of the most horrifying scenes in the Bible. An old man is standing over his young son, ready to plunge a knife into his heart – all because the old man’s God asked him to do it. I can’t imagine how both Abraham and Isaac felt at that time, but when Isaac’s god is mentioned later, he is called the ‘Fear of Isaac,’ so this incident must have traumatized him for life.

Abraham is often praised and lauded for being faithful, for being willing to carry through what God demanded of him. I’ve struggled with that notion all of my life because it appears to me that Abraham’s faith has become fanatical and dangerous, so dangerous that he is in fact ready to destroy whatever future his son may have in order to appease his capricious god. 

Much has also been said about God testing Abraham to see if there are any limits, any boundaries he will not cross. Isaac is put in harm’s way in order to see if Abraham is willing to remain faithful. How many times has that religious logic brought about the destruction of innocents, which includes all that is happening in Gaza and Rafah today? Are those leaders who insist on bombing all the cities in Palestine until they are rubble, and killing thousands of innocent children in the process, being faithful or fanatical? Has their national and religious zeal destroyed their humanity? Are they completing God’s work or are we witnessing evil on a massive scale? Are we also complicit by supplying the money, munitions, and missiles to keep this onslaught occurring? Are we raising the dagger of destruction over holy innocents in order to retain our beliefs, our standards, our faith?

I don’t know about you, but I wish that Abraham had questioned God, had defended Isaac, and had refused to follow through with this command. It may not have been a very religious story about faith, but it would have been a very human story about questioning religion.

Point to ponder: Why do we justify war instead of seeking peace?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are no easy answers and just like You in Gethsemane, we question God’s will. Challenge our fanatical beliefs which sinfully destroy our humanity. Help us to follow Your ways to peace, even though the truth may undermine our faith. In Your Holy Name, we plead and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

It Makes Me Wonder - Genesis 22:14

Genesis 22:14  “So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (NIV)

            I like to see people enjoying their families, whether it is at church, in a park, or even on Facebook. To look at the delight and love that parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts bestow upon children of all ages are wonderful gifts and they make me happy to be in the world today. I grew up in poverty and experienced some very sad circumstances, but the best of my memories from childhood are of those times and moments of joy, happiness, and love that my parents, relatives, and siblings shared.

            I find the biblical story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac in Genesis 22 very difficult to embrace and comprehend. I’m thankful for the happy ending, but I’m troubled by the unquestioning devotion Abraham gives to God. It seems like uncontrolled religious fanaticism to me and I wonder how that strange and bewildering moment affected the future relationship between father and son. The fact that we don’t have many events recorded about Isaac’s later life, as compared to both Abraham and Jacob, makes me think that Isaac could have been a very subdued and introverted person due to the emotional trauma he experienced by almost being sacrificed by his dad.

            I know that the story appears to be a scriptural precursor and dramatic prophecy of Christ’s sacrificial crucifixion at Calvary, with God and Jesus filling the roles of Abraham and Isaac respectively, but even that doesn’t diminish the perplexity I feel about the original Abrahamic episode. It does, however, leave me with a healthy repugnance of religious fundamentalism of any faith on Earth, which can tragically mutate into an inhumane cruelty and even insanely justify killing other people in the name of God.

Point to ponder

How do I display my faith to my family?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to receive God’s work of salvation as described in the Bible, even when some things and events really mystify us. Keep us faithful to Your ministry on Earth, but protect us from becoming over-zealous and unloving. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings called “Redeemer.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Redeemer.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. The congregation would be delighted to see you at our Sunday worship services at 11:00 AM or at any other time. J

Taliban Tales of Terror

And our President thinks we should be in dialogue with people like this?

Afghanistan Taliban members have publicly murdered a young couple who were planning to get married.

The man, 21, and woman, 19, were shot dead on Monday in front of a mosque in the south-western province of Nimroz, because they were supposedly having an illicit affair.

The young couple had eloped because their families would not approve a marriage. 

Local officials have said the killings followed a decree by local religious leaders, linked to the Taliban.

Before killing the couple, three Taliban mullahs passed a fatwa, saying that they should be shot and killed in front of a mosque. 

Muslim Extremist Jailed in Britain

Home grown Islamic activist jailed for four years for threatening British and US forces, and inciting fellow Muslims to form terrorism cells in UK.

As reported by The Independent

By Cahal Milmo
A Muslim activist who became known for his publicly expressed extremist views was jailed for four and a half years yesterday for terrorism-related offences committed during a series of inflammatory speeches at a London mosque.

Judge Nicholas Price said that Abu Izzadeen, 33, a British-born convert to Islam, was a "leading light" in a group of men who used a gathering at the Regent's Park mosque in November 2004 to call for volunteers to fight British troops in Iraq and appeal for funds to finance insurgents abroad.

The former BT electrician, who is a father of three, achieved notoriety after refusing to condemn the 7 July suicide bombers. He also heckled the then Home Secretary John Reid as he gave a speech in east London in 2006. He was one of six men from the al-Muhajiroun group convicted of taking part in the speeches, which coincided with US forces besieging Fallujah in one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war.

Read the rest of the story here…