A new understanding

If you are reading this post and wonder why I am writing about a new understanding of the Abraham and Isaac story it is because we were at Mars Hill church on Sunday and the speaker spoke about this topic. I briefly mentioned it in the previous post but wanted to give a bit more space to it as I was somewhat blown away by the faith of Abraham. Here goes

Most readers of Genesis 22 assume that Isaac was probably a young lad or even a little child. According to data in genealogies he was in his upper 30's probably about 37. Don't you think that he could have taken Abraham if he wanted to, and not gotten strapped to an altar to be chopped alive? Also I have always thought that Abraham expected God to speak before sacrificing Isaac, so that in his mind he would go through the song and dance of getting him ready for sacrifice knowing full well that we wouldn't have to do it. The speaker on Sunday then reminded us of the faith chapter in Hebrews 11 and verse 19 it says that "Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead" This hit me like a ton of bricks, Abraham thought through the fact that God could raise his only son from the dead, I take this as he knew that when he sacrificed Isaac God could then raise him back again. Not that God would spare Isaac before sacrificing, Abraham had reasoned that the sacrifice was going to happen. As had 37 year old Isaac, the faith the two of them had is astounding. One that is willing to sacrifice his only son, and one who is willing to be sacrificed. God spoke before it took place, not the answer that either were expecting. This is a new understanding for me, I had always given all the credit to the ram in the thicket for showing up ( I know that God provided him) but really the credit goes to both Abraham and Isaac who were expecting to go through with it and then see the miraculous hand of God. I must ask the question am I ready to go through it ( whatever circumstance that is) then see the hand of God, or do I only have faith to see the hand of God without the hard times? Tough question to answer, I'll let you ponder the story a bit more
Thanks Ed Dobson for your teaching and insight on Sunday morning
earl
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