This Sunday.

God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.
–Genesis 22.1-4

• Have you ever had to let go of something or someone you love?  What made it difficult for you?
• Do you trust God?
• Why does God test Abraham in this way?  Does this story trouble you?
• I wonder if Sarah knew about this?  I wonder if it’s important that she is absent in this story?

The Akedah, or binding.  That’s how this story is referred to in Jewish biblical literature.  It’s the binding; it’s a story that is equally celebrated for it’s narrative while also being deeply troubling for the idea that God would test Abraham in such a cruel way.  I think it’s a story meant to confront us with more questions than there are answers, and wrestling with questions is important for our growth and development.

Come join us Sunday night at 6 pm on Zoom (Download Bulletin) as we wrestle with this story together and in the shock and fear of a story that makes us want to look away perhaps find the hope we expect to continue on for this week.

–Thomas