Abraham's Family - The Binding of Isaac - part 3

Good evening. So, carrying on from where we left off last week, we are looking at what's called The Binding of Isaac. Some people refer to it as the sacrifice of Isaac, but of course, Isaac wasn't actually sacrificed. It's usually called The Binding of Isaac, and it's one of the most difficult things in the whole Bible to understand and make sense of. This act of Abraham is the foundation of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It's not just an event that took place; it's actually one of the most important events. Jews remember it in their prayers every day, and it's very important for Muslims as well. Christians have a certain slanted understanding of it, connecting it with Jesus. If you put that aside and just try to look at the event in its own right, the basic principle of understanding is that it's to do with restoring the foundation of faith. Abraham was trying to restore that foundation of faith, and God asked him to make those animal sacrifices, but he didn't cut up the two doves. As a result of this, God said that his descendants would inhabit a foreign country and live as slaves for 400 years. This follows on from that some years later. In the Principle, it's understood as restoring the mistake that he made the first time around. You might wonder why it should be something much more difficult. Sometimes, if you make a mistake, putting it right is actually a lot more difficult and requires a lot more work. If you're revising for an exam and you don't do well the first time, do you need to revise just as much the second time or even more? It's a lot more work, isn't it? Otherwise, you end up with the same results. It's a bit like this.

So, this is what happens. We'll try to look at it from different points of view. It's a very important event. One day, God said to Abraham, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering." Abraham rose early in the morning. Is there anything surprising in that statement? Obviously, the first part is surprising: God said to offer your son as a burnt offering. I also find Abraham's response very surprising. He gets right out of bed early in the morning, takes Isaac, and sets off for Moriah, a three-day walk to sacrifice him. He doesn't argue with God. When God said he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham argued with him. So why did Abraham not argue with God about offering his son Isaac as a burnt offering? I think he must have felt that the mistake of the first offering was too serious. He must have come to that conclusion. Maybe he remembered that the first time he didn't do it correctly, so perhaps this time he needed to. When he defended the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, it wasn't about being selfish. Last time, he fell asleep, but this time he didn't. Who knows? For whatever reason, he must have felt in his heart of hearts that this was the right thing to do. If he thought it was the wrong thing to do, he wouldn't have done it. His conscience didn't say this was wrong; in his heart of hearts, he felt this was the right thing to do.

When we ask the question of why God asked Abraham to do this, we wonder why God tested Abraham. Usually, people say that God doesn't need to test us because He knows what we're like. What is the purpose of a test? To prove loyalty in this circumstance, yes. I also think that man is in a position between God and Satan. He often has to be clear about whether he is on God's side or Satan's side. This is one explanation. If you look at the Hebrew word for test, it is very similar to the word for miracle. If you think about a test, if you were to do the kind of test that would be given to a primary school child, would you find it hard or easy? I don't think you would find it hard. You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Would you find it boring or would you find it a great challenge? Boring, right? But when you're doing a test that stretches you, how do you feel? Harder? Now, supposing you enjoy rock climbing and you see a cliff face that you wonder if you can really climb. It's a real challenge. If it were something really easy, you'd think, "Oh, I just do that all the time." But that's a challenge. I'm not sure if I can actually do it or not. Then you work hard, sometimes you fall back, and eventually, you get to the top. How do you feel? A sense of great accomplishment, right? By getting to the top, are you the same kind of climber as you were when you were at the bottom? What's changed? You feel more comfortable. Through going through this kind of test, you have changed. You've faced a barrier challenge and gone through that barrier, doing something you didn't think you were capable of doing.

That's why the Army puts people through terrible tests, obstacle courses, and all sorts of things. Through going through these things and doing things you thought were impossible, you then realise that actually, it is possible. Where you would have been put off by something in the past, you now feel, "Actually, now I know I can do it." You feel a greater sense of confidence. In that sense, that's why a test is like a miracle. A miracle is when God breaks out of His standard pattern of natural law and demonstrates unlimited power, and a test is when God invites you to do the same. That's why when a person passes a test, it causes a miracle to happen. When we take a test, we break through a barrier. Some tests are like having to break through an old habit. We're used to doing things a certain way, and then we find we have to do things in a different way. It's really difficult to change and break through this habit. Once you've broken through it, you feel like you've become a different person. That's why people do conditions like fasting or cold showers. You think, "How can I possibly live for seven days without eating?" Then you try to do it, and you realise that this has broken that kind of barrier.

Abraham himself passed many tests. The Bible says he passed nine tests. I don't know what they all are, but I've told you some of them. For example, there was the time when he was challenged over Nimrod. He passed several tests when he was a child. What was he going to do at the risk of his life? He passed that test. This is often seen as the toughest, the hardest test. When God told him He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, that was a test. Abraham felt it was wrong, but what was he going to do? Was he going to keep quiet? He couldn't argue with God. When God told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, He was actually testing Abraham. He wanted Abraham to respond in the way he did, to argue with Him. You can imagine how Abraham must have had to pluck up his courage to confront God. By doing that, he went through a test and passed it. This is another kind of test, but this kind of test is completely different from all the other kinds of tests. Throwing yourself into a fiery furnace instead of worshipping Nimrod is a statement about yourself. This particular test, sacrificing Isaac, seems to be contrary to everything he believed. It was against everything he had sacrificed his life for up until then. It was against everything God had told him. He could see no reason or purpose for this act, and everything in him cried out against it. But why did he do it? One way to explain it is that in his heart of hearts, he felt it was the right thing to do. God told him to do it, so in that sense, you could say that the core of Abraham's faith lies not in the self but in commitment to the Creator. It's about absolutely following God, whatever God says.

The biblical world rejected ancestor worship, which raises the question: why? When you worship your ancestors, you create a connection with those who share the same lineage. This can lead to social consequences, as you may view those without the same ancestors as enemies. In a world where everyone worships their own ancestors, ethical and moral obligations become divided. However, the biblical perspective introduces the idea of one God, the parent of all humanity, which fosters a sense of unity. This means that every human being is a brother or sister, sharing the same divine parentage.

In the ancient world, each people had their own gods, and this created divisions. The God of Abraham proclaimed that there is one God who created the universe and is the deity for every human being. This understanding leads to radical equality, as everyone stands equal before God, regardless of their background. The biblical tradition challenges the narrowness of nationalism and ancestor worship, promoting the idea that all humanity is connected through one divine source. This also challenges patriarchal structures, as the commandment to honour both father and mother reflects equality within the family unit.

In the biblical worldview, parents do not own their children; rather, they are guardians. This perspective shifts the understanding of parental authority, as children belong to God. Consequently, parents do not have the right to harm their children, as they are entrusted to care for them. This principle has implications for child rights, highlighting the need for legal protections against parental abuse, which were not always present in the past. Historically, parents had significant power over their children, and societal norms often allowed for abusive practices without legal repercussions.

The story of Abraham and Isaac illustrates this divine principle. When God asked Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering, it was a test of faith. God was teaching Abraham that Isaac was not his property but belonged to God. The lesson is not about sacrificing children but about recognising their divine value and the responsibility of parents to care for them. Isaac's willingness to participate in this test reflects a profound trust in his father, which is essential in any parent-child relationship. This story has often been misinterpreted, leading to misguided teachings about sacrifice and obedience.

Abraham's relationship with God exemplifies absolute love, faith, and obedience. He demonstrated love for his enemies, such as the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, by pleading for their lives. This commitment to love and faithfulness is a model for all believers. The narrative also touches on the complexities of family dynamics, particularly regarding Hagar and Ishmael. Sarah's decision to send Hagar away was influenced by her desire to protect Isaac, highlighting the challenges of familial relationships in the context of divine purpose.

Ultimately, while Abraham restored the foundation of faith through his obedience, the consequences of past actions lingered. His descendants faced trials, including 400 years in Egypt, which were not erased by his faithfulness. The Binding of Isaac was a pivotal moment, breaking barriers and establishing a new level of understanding regarding self-sacrifice and divine relationship. Abraham's journey illustrates the profound implications of faith and the necessity of aligning one's actions with divine principles.

Abraham sacrificed himself; he sacrificed his ideals, everything he believed in, and his future son, Isaac. Sacrifice everything is like equivalent to just killing himself, really. It's even worse in that sense because he's still alive, but he's willing to make that kind of total commitment to what he believes is right. I think he felt in his heart that he had to do this, even if he didn't understand why. Isaac would have understood why it was necessary; he probably thought it was necessary for something, but he didn't understand why. Sometimes we do things without knowing their meaning at the time, but later we look back and realise they had significance. At the moment, we just feel we have to do something, even if we don't know why.

You might see someone in the street and feel compelled to speak to them without knowing why. That interaction could change that person's life; perhaps they were contemplating suicide, and your conversation made a difference. We often want to know all the reasons why, but sometimes it's just necessary to act. I think that's what it was with Abraham. If he hadn't done that, someone else would have had to step in. It's not unusual; the crucifixion was foundational for Christianity, and similar themes can be found in Sikhism. For example, Guru Gobind Singh, the last human Guru, realised that many Sikhs were unclear about their identity. During a festival, he called for volunteers willing to sacrifice themselves, and several young men stepped forward. They went into his tent, and when they emerged, they were transformed into a new order of Sikhs, symbolising a profound commitment.

However, it's essential to clarify that nobody was actually sacrificed in that instance. Sometimes, people misunderstand these stories. For example, you see mothers from extremist groups expressing pride in their children becoming suicide bombers or martyrs. This is a complete distortion of the story of Abraham and Isaac. God explicitly said not to sacrifice your children, a dominant theme in the Old Testament. Misinterpretations can lead to tragic consequences, as seen in certain cultures where children are raised to aspire to martyrdom. This is a pathological form of religion that distorts the original message, which is about love and not sacrifice.

In contrast, the story of Lot and his family illustrates a different moral principle, one of hospitality. When faced with the choice between saving his guests or his family, Lot's actions reflect a complex ethical dilemma. It's a terrible situation to find oneself in, and sometimes people must make difficult choices. For instance, a woman from Burma became a dissident to undermine a regime, leaving her family behind. While she is seen as a hero, her children have mixed feelings about her absence. Abraham's story teaches us the importance of seeking permission from our children before making significant sacrifices that affect them.

Reflecting on my own life, I realise that many times I thought I was following God's will without seeking support from my family. This often led to pain and broken relationships. The story of Abraham and Isaac is often misinterpreted to justify unilateral sacrifices. However, it's crucial to come to an agreement with those involved, as destroying a relationship to create something new is not a solution. It often leads to more work in the future to restore what was lost. Misunderstandings about this story can lead to significant emotional burdens, and it's vital to approach such situations with care and consideration.