The story of Abraham being commanded by God to take his son, Isaac, up Mount Moriah as a sacrifice strikes us as bizarre. In the Jewish tradition this scene is known as “the binding of Isaac.” This shifts the focus off of what Abraham was doing to what Isaac was feeling. In a book by Frederick Buechner entitled Son of Laughter (remember that Sarah laughed when she was told she would be a mother at age 99, hence Isaac’s name) Isaac is portrayed as being somewhat leery about God. The experience he had on the mountain made him want to keep God at arm’s length. This Biblical account provides the occasion to examine our own experiences to see how they shape our attitude towards God.
JULY42019
By Church Staff