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Abraham, hearing God’s promise that all nations of the world would be blessed through his descendants, could easily devote himself to the physical manifestation of God’s promise: his son, Isaac.
We discussed on Sunday how if that were the case, Isaac could become an “idol” (Hebrew root: part of the whole) for Abraham. Abraham would or could center his action and his hope in his Isaac. But what happens if his son disappoints or disappears?
Furthermore, the hope for Abraham, for Isaac, and the promise of blessing for the world through them, comes as Abraham entrusts himself to God, moves in God’s wisdom, justice, and love. Therefore God calls Abraham to “offer completely” his son, Isaac, to God. Abraham believes initially that this to mean he is to kill his son (a common practice among some of the gods/religions he knew).
As I have noted before, some Jewish sages suggest that Abraham misunderstood God’s call when he thinks God wants him to kill Isaac (Torah Lights by Rabbi Rishkin). He is not called to kill, but rather to “offer” Isaac completely to God. God calls Abraham to shift his attention first to God rather than anxiously focus his attention on Isaac. Abraham is to view Isaac through the lens of God, rather than invest all of his hopes and fears in Isaac and essentially make Isaac into a god. Abraham who can offer up becomes Abraham who can start a movement that has the potential to bless the whole world.
What gets your attention, your devotion, your “all?” How might God be calling you to offer these things to God, bringing them to God and asking, “What might we do with this together?”
And the more we offer these things that are only “part of the whole” into the light and love of God, we, like Abraham, will then better release, share, and/or nurture what we have, and through us more and more people will be blessed in God’s transformative love, mercy, justice, and hope. We will better welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us- - whether with ukuleles, migrant justice, meals, a listening ear, and so much more. In this we are part of blessing all the people of the earth. Come and see!
Love,
Pastor Michael Bush
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