The binding of Isaac Jewish Akeda Muslim Qurban

Lots of people did what Abraham was prepared to do- sacrifice a close relative in obedience to a higher power. We are told, more than once, that Abraham loved Isaac. I presume that at least some pagans loved their children too. It is only natural to love one’s offspring. The only difference between the pagan who sacrificed a child, and Abraham who tried and was stopped, is that the latter was supposedly following the true religion. But does one get special credit, and praise, just for being right? If it is indeed praiseworthy to be prepared to kill one’s child in obedience to a deity, then Abraham and his pagan counterparts are on a par. If the pagan’s child sacrifice was too immoral to deserve praise, then so was Abraham’s. Stewart Shapiro- Philosophers without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life (pp11-12)

Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence. Richard Dawkins

Real faith Real faith and true relationships. Real faith and hard choices. Real faith and meaningful sacrifices.

Real faith and true relationships 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” James 3: 21,23 Reference to Gen 15:6 Also Romans 4:3

Real faith and true relationships 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. James 3: 21,23

Walk with God and God walks with you

All meaningful relationships are based on some measure of faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see Hebrews 11: 1

Friendship with God allows room for struggling with doubt. Abraham brings his frustrations and doubts to God - Gen 15:3, 15:8, 17:17, 21:11. “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” Hebrews 11:39

Friendship with God goes 2 ways INTIMACY. Abraham negotiates with God (Gen 18:23-33). KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL. God reveals his covenant progressively to God (Gen 12:1-7, Gen13:14-17, Gen 15:12-16, Gen 17:3-8, 9-14, Gen 22:15-18). VULNERABILITY. Gen 15:2, Gen 17:18.

Friendship with God requires obedience You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you my servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:14-15.

Obstacles to being friends with God Dichotomy in our lives. Faith which is only in the mind (James 2:14-17 ) Comfort zone faith (still in Ur). Do you want God as your friend?

Real faith and hard choices Soren Kierkegaard- “theological suspension of the ethical”- the suspension of the moral law for the sake of a higher law. Although God must be obeyed, murder is immoral. (extracted from “Fear and trembling, Soren Kierkegaard.) Is God contradicting himself for asking Isaac to be sacrificed?

Nowhere else in the bible does God ask anyone to literally sacrifice their children. (Pagan religions regularly ask for human sacrifices to appease the gods). God detests human sacrifices (Deut 12:29-31, Lev 18:21). Suicide bombers are not common in Christianity.

“God will provide”. V8 “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” V14a So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. V14b And to this day it is said “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Reconciling faith and facts God has repeatedly assured Abraham that Isaac will be the channel of God’s covenant. Logic dictates Isaac must live. Some time later, God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Logic dictates Isaac must die. If both are not contradictory, then… Even if Isaac is sacrificed, God’s covenant through him remains.

Abraham REASONED (ie: he used his brains) By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham, reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Heb 11:17-19

V2 Then God said “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love…” V12b “…you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” V16b “…and have not withheld your son, your only son.” “He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all.” Romans 8:32. For God so loved the world, he gave his one and only son… John 3:16a

God will provide God establishes His covenant with Abraham through his son, Isaac. Isaac has to be sacrificed. The ram substitutes Isaac as the sacrifice. Through the sacrifice, Isaac becomes the channel of blessings to the nations.

God will provide REDEMPTION God establishes His covenant with us through his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus has to be sacrificed for our sins. Jesus is the lamb substituting us. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we become the channel of blessings to the nations.

Hard choices reveal ourselves. V 12 “Now I know that you fear God….” The basis of being able to make hard choices is the fear of God (not loving God, not knowing God, not desiring God, not experiencing God, etc). We are reminded during any hard choices that God is always faithful to his covenant.

Real faith Real faith and true relationships. Real faith and hard choices. Real faith and meaningful sacrifices.

Real faith and meaningful sacrifices

The motive for any sacrifices we make should be the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

What is your Isaac?

Who is your Isaac?

Selfish sacrifices To keep our Isaacs attached to us. To manipulate our Isaacs in their life. To hope our Isaacs respond to our sacrifices the way we desire.

If I love God more than my children I will love my children better. CS Lewis