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January 7 + Daily Notes & Readings

DAY 7

Congratulations!  After today's reading, you have completed a week of Bible reading.  If I recall correctly, it's been said it takes approximately 21 days to make something a habit.  You're 1/3 of the way there!

There's no video today.  So, this is a good time to let you know about our new feature.  We've created a Facebook group for everyone participating in our Bible Project reading plan.  It's an open group which means anyone can join and chime in at any time.  It's also a great way to encourage each other to keep reading.

I'm also planning to host a weekly Q&A based on our readings.  I'll need your questions.  I'm hoping to address 3-5 questions each week.  Keep those questions coming, and I'll do my best to find some direction for you.

DAILY READING

Genesis 22-24 & Psalm 7

DAILY NOTES

Genesis 22:1-3
  • Whether it was a test or temptation, Abraham followed through with what God asked him to do.  "Here I Am" is a powerful statement.  When you tell God, "Here I Am," you're accepting what God wills.  You're sacrificing your will to God's.  You may or may not feel ready or adequate for what words God gives next, but you have made your life an offering to God.  
  • This is the first instance of love in the Bible.
  • How old was Isaac?  I know some of you remember Sunday School pictures or other paintings of this scene illustrating Issac as a child, but does the text indicate how old he was?
    • By the way, the old Genesis 22 joke goes like this: the reason Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac at the age of twelve and not 13 is because at 13 it wouldn't have been a sacrifice.
  • Some texts indicate that God says, "Please take your son....."
Genesis 22:4-14
  • Did Abraham worry the other men might try to stop him from what he was going to do?  Was that why he left them and went with Isaac alone?
  • "We will worship."  He is not lying.  Sacrifice is a form of worship.  
  • Isaac seems to have some doubts about what is happening.  Abraham encourages him to have the kind of trust he has--easy for him to say.
  • Abraham freely, and quickly, follows through with what God has told him.  Isaac doesn't seem to put up a fight either.  Which is the most difficult sacrifice?
  • Abraham uses the phrase, "here I am" two more times.  
  • Abraham fears God now.  Do you remember what he feared in the last chapter?
  • Turns out, the Lord didn't provide a lamb, but a ram.  
  • "The Lord will provide"  Jehovah Jireh.
Genesis 22:19
  • The text doesn't say Isaac returned with them.  
Genesis 23
  • Some Jewish texts indicate that Sarah died as a result of the binding of Isaac.  
  • Notice that Abraham's role in the story is winding down.  God has already made a covenant with him.  Abraham has already proven to fear God, and was given a second blessing, an affirmation of his blessing.
Genesis 24:1-2
  • Abraham seems to understand that his life has been fully blessed by God.  All that is left is for the promise of future descendants to come to fruition.  
  • "Thigh" could mean thigh.  Or, as some Jewish references indicate, it could mean "organ of circumcision."  Yea, I don't see that making it's way to a Veggie Tales episode.
    • Either way, as strange as it sounds, it may indicate a sign of submission.  If I put my hand under your thigh, I am putting myself under your authority.
Genesis 24:3-10
  • Abraham has traveled much in his life.  It becomes important for him to make sure his son's wife comes from his home.  By the end of the chapter we are told Isaac needs to be comforted after his mother's death.  Was this search for a wife an intentional way to do that?
Genesis 24:21
  • Disbelief?  Astonishment?  Relief?  The man bites his tongue as he watches Rebekah fulfill his perfect scenario.  
Genesis 24:41
  • Compare this verse with verse 8.
Genesis 24:55
  • What's his hurry?  Does he just want to be done with the task?  Is he anxious to tell Abraham of all that has transpired?  Is he worried they won't follow through?  Abraham doesn't give him a time table for a return.  There is only one stipulation.
Genesis 24:63
  • This could be a stroll through the park or something with more religious, prayerful, connotations.  
Psalm 6
  • The psalmist feels the pain of an illness (verse 2).  
  • Verse 3 feels incomplete: "while you"  While you what?  
  • Verse 5: In other words, I can't give you praise if I'm dead.
  • How much shame has the psalmist endured because of his illness?

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

The binding of Isaac is a problematic story for many people.  I've known people who would rather it never be read in worship or preached about ever again.  How could God request such a horrific action?  It's easy to reduce the story to cultural systems, and it kind of makes sense to do so.

Still, out of the story we learn something about Abraham.  We may also learn something about Isaac.  How old was Isaac?  We tend to make him a young boy.  Here's an explanation I've heard before that is provides a meaningful connection to our faith.  Isaac was not a boy, but a young man.  We can say that because the the wood of the burnt offering had been, presumably, handled by the two men Abraham brought with them.  When Abraham and Isaac went on alone, Abraham took the wood and "laid it on his son Isaac."  Could a boy carry the amount of wood needed for this particular offering--it was indicated to be a burnt offering.

If that's the case, we also note how Isaac does resist his father's plan.  Read: he was willing to sacrifice himself for his father.  Is that a message a follower of Jesus can get behind?

Stay blessed...john
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