Abraham and the Anxiety of Faith (Genesis 12-22)
February 6, 2006
In studying chapters 12 to 22 of Genesis we begin to see revealed that what is being developed are parameters of the relationship between God and humankind. Looking at these scriptures through the Jewish perspective, as Dr. Breuer encourages us to do, requires us to bring a playfulness into our reading. The covenant made between Abraham and God in chapter 17 is the kind of "treaty" made between equal persons or peoples. A greater appreciation of this fact may bring us to a freer relationship with God, and a willingness to argue with God, question God and laugh at or with God.
I have to wonder why it was that God chose Abram (later renamed "Abraham"). Did Abram somehow qualify to be chosen? Is God still in a creating mode and making sense out of the chaos of creation when he taps Abram on the shoulder and says, "Guess what, Abram"? When God calls Abram, the first disclosure made is that Abram will be dislocated from his home, his land, everything to which he has become accustomed. I hear God saying that "dislocation" is a necessary ingredient for redemption. Maybe everything must be rooted in God and not in anything else which might distract us from God. Abram remains very human in his interactions with God. He is interested in survival and having an heir. He seems to be little concerned with matters of belief and certainly he does not ask questions of doctrine or theology. Abram engages God on a very human level, with questions, with anxiety and with laughter. At times, Abram even goads God with his statements.
As the relationship begins to be fleshed out it appears that God is committing himself to something in the relationship. This is not fleshed out in detail except that there is a promise of descendants. We begin to see that in return, Abraham is expected to be "righteous" and "just" but even these qualities are undefined. What does it mean to be "righteous"?
In chapter 22, God "tests" Abraham with the request for a sacrifice. In this well known story Abraham takes Isaac to be the sacrifice offered in the wilderness. God replaces Isaac as the sacrifice with an animal that is caught in a nearby thicket. What does this story reveal to us about the relationship of Abraham and God, and the relationship between humankind and God? Is the relationship about testing? Is it about trust? How can any God ask of us or anyone such a sacrifice? It is interesting to note that the name of God changes throughout these chapters from "Elohein" to "Yahweh." This is a change I do not yet fully appreciate. What does it imply?
When God calls to Abraham he responds with the words "Here I am" which is the same Hebrew expression used when later Isaac calls to his father, and Abraham responds, "Here I am." Although we have only begun to open up this book of the bible from a human Jewish perspective, I wonder if what I am beginning to see is the definition of yet another relationship found in the text, perhaps that of the relationship we have to one another. If so, that means we now have three relationships beginning to be defined in this opening book of Genesis: 1) our relationship to God, 2) God’s relationship to us, and 3) our relationship with one another.
In studying chapters 12 to 22 of Genesis we begin to see revealed that what is being developed are parameters of the relationship between God and humankind. Looking at these scriptures through the Jewish perspective, as Dr. Breuer encourages us to do, requires us to bring a playfulness into our reading. The covenant made between Abraham and God in chapter 17 is the kind of "treaty" made between equal persons or peoples. A greater appreciation of this fact may bring us to a freer relationship with God, and a willingness to argue with God, question God and laugh at or with God.
I have to wonder why it was that God chose Abram (later renamed "Abraham"). Did Abram somehow qualify to be chosen? Is God still in a creating mode and making sense out of the chaos of creation when he taps Abram on the shoulder and says, "Guess what, Abram"? When God calls Abram, the first disclosure made is that Abram will be dislocated from his home, his land, everything to which he has become accustomed. I hear God saying that "dislocation" is a necessary ingredient for redemption. Maybe everything must be rooted in God and not in anything else which might distract us from God. Abram remains very human in his interactions with God. He is interested in survival and having an heir. He seems to be little concerned with matters of belief and certainly he does not ask questions of doctrine or theology. Abram engages God on a very human level, with questions, with anxiety and with laughter. At times, Abram even goads God with his statements.
As the relationship begins to be fleshed out it appears that God is committing himself to something in the relationship. This is not fleshed out in detail except that there is a promise of descendants. We begin to see that in return, Abraham is expected to be "righteous" and "just" but even these qualities are undefined. What does it mean to be "righteous"?
In chapter 22, God "tests" Abraham with the request for a sacrifice. In this well known story Abraham takes Isaac to be the sacrifice offered in the wilderness. God replaces Isaac as the sacrifice with an animal that is caught in a nearby thicket. What does this story reveal to us about the relationship of Abraham and God, and the relationship between humankind and God? Is the relationship about testing? Is it about trust? How can any God ask of us or anyone such a sacrifice? It is interesting to note that the name of God changes throughout these chapters from "Elohein" to "Yahweh." This is a change I do not yet fully appreciate. What does it imply?
When God calls to Abraham he responds with the words "Here I am" which is the same Hebrew expression used when later Isaac calls to his father, and Abraham responds, "Here I am." Although we have only begun to open up this book of the bible from a human Jewish perspective, I wonder if what I am beginning to see is the definition of yet another relationship found in the text, perhaps that of the relationship we have to one another. If so, that means we now have three relationships beginning to be defined in this opening book of Genesis: 1) our relationship to God, 2) God’s relationship to us, and 3) our relationship with one another.
posted by Philip | 7:04 a.m.
1 Comments:
Hi, Phil:
I am enjoying your blog and have recommended that Elizabeth read it regularly as part of her confirmation process. Today's entry reminded me of the hymn we sang yesterday....which you can read, and maybe hear if you go tohttp://www.unityofflagstaff.org/music/chaplains%20song.html.
Fran
Post a Comment
<< Home