I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. My work schedule has recently changed, meaning that I may not have time every day to complete these. As a result, I am trying to get several days ahead. I hope this does not negatively impact the quality of these posts (if that is possible). If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
We are told again and again throughout the Bible that Abraham was a man of faith and a man of God. Yet here in this passage (and in others) we see how his faith and his actions fell short of what we should admire. People often forget that just because Abraham and others are held up in the Bible as persons to be emulated, that does not mean that the Bible is telling us that everything they did was good. Rather, we are to recognize that as flawed as they were, they still strove to serve God. In this passage, Abraham deceived Abimelech about his wife Sarah, telling him that she was his sister and leaving out that she was his wife. Later in the passage, Abraham turns out Hagar and his son, Ishmael, to appease Sarah, who was angry over Ishmael’s attitude towards Isaac. In both cases, God acted to prevent Abraham’s actions from causing harm to others.
Up until here, God has repeatedly told Abraham that His various promises to Abraham will be fulfilled through Isaac and his descendants. In this passage, Abraham feels led by God to take Isaac and offer him as a burnt sacrifice to God. Offering a son as a burnt sacrifice was a common practice among the people who lived in the area where Abraham was now dwelling. They would have thought that if Abraham was truly as devoted to his God as he claimed, he would offer up his son as a burnt offering. When Abraham arrived at the mountain where he felt such a sacrifice should be made, he built an altar and prepared the wood of the sacrifice. As he was about to sacrifice Isaac, he became aware of a ram caught by its horns in the thicket nearby. He offered that ram instead of Isaac.
I am downplaying the moments when the account mentions God speaking directly to Abraham because I think there are lessons for us to learn from reading the passage in this manner (I am not saying that there are not lessons to be learned from paying close attention to God’s direct words to Abraham, just that another lesson can be more readily seen when we pay less attention to them). I see this passage as illustrating, for all time, that God does not desire human sacrifice. The passage also demonstrates Abraham’s willingness to surrender the thing which was most valuable to him, his son Isaac, if that was what God required of him.
Jesus continues His sermon by warning us against false prophets, against those who claim to speak in the name of God and goodness but are really speaking for their own interests. He tells us that we can recognize them by looking at the results of their actions. We are not to judge people on the basis of what they claim is their motivation, rather we are to judge people on their results, on their fruit. You can claim that something is a grape vine, but if it does not produce grapes and makes me itch when I touch the leaves, I will know that it is poison ivy. You can claim that something is a thistle, but if it produces wine-berries (similar in appearance to raspberries), I will know that it is a good plant. In the same way, someone can claim to want to help the poor, but if their actions only enrich themselves, or their allies, while making life harder for the poor, I will know that they are not working to help the poor. Do not judge people by what they claim about themselves, nor by what others claim about them, judge them by the results of their actions.
Jesus continues by telling us that it is not enough to claim that we are acting in His name. We must actually do the things which God directs us to do. If we want to build something which will last for eternity, it is not enough to listen to Jesus’ teaching, we need to also put it into practice. You can put up a quite beautiful appearance by parroting Jesus’ teaching and putting on a facade of righteousness, but when trouble arises, your life will collapse around you.
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart. If you want to be filled with joy, tell others about the marvelous things which God has done. He rules the world and judges everyone with justice. He avenges murder and aids the helpless. He will take action in response to the cries of the suffering.
Wisdom will save you from the immoral and the promiscuous. Sexual immorality will lead to death and destruction. It will undermine any other good which you may have accomplished. Stay away from those who practice it. Instead follow the example of the godly and walk in the path of righteousness. Such a course will lead to a long and productive life.