Abraham and Isaac: sacrifice and reward
(Genesis 22.1-140. Matthew 10.40-42)
St Peter’s Wellington; 2 July 2023
Bishop Richard Randerson
Today’s first reading a shocker! What sort of God would require child sacrifice?
Yet this is what God asked of Abraham, to sacrifice his son Isaac. This was about 1900 BC or BCE (before the common era, as we say today). It was in the age of the patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (and their wives Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel).
Child sacrifice for sin was part of the culture of those days. God was testing Abraham’s faith. Was his loyalty to God such that he would sacrifice even his only son? Was he fit to lead God’s people to be a light to the nation?
Abraham passed the test and the Lord stayed the execution, thus outlawing child sacrifice as having no place in God’s will.
We also note Isaac’s obedience as successor to his father Abraham. Note too God’s grace in providing a ram for sacrifice: the place was called “God will provide”, in Hebrew. Jehovah Jireh. Abraham worshipped God there.
The chapter goes on:
- Israel will become as numerous as the stars in the sky or as the grains of sand on a beach
- It will offer redemption to all nations (noted again in Isaiah 49)
- A land is promised – Canaan
- Jacob’s son Joseph becomes prominent with Pharaoh in Egypt and brings his family there. After 500 years there Moses leads the exodus hrough 40 years in the wilderness back to the promised land of Canaan(C 1400-1300 BCE).
Does God’s call to sacrifice have a parallel with Jesus’ death? Yes and No
In one way YES:
- Jesus’ death on the cross was seen as the ultimate sacrifice to end all previous repetitive sacrifices.
- Jesus seeks the same 100% loyalty of his followers (Peter: “you are the Christ, the son of the living God”).
- And Jesus’ death and resurrection also offers redemption to all nations.
But in a major way NO:
- God is a God of love, not punishment. No price has to be paid for sin. Jesus did not die for our sins. The concept of sacrifice for sin is superseded.
- Jesus’ death was not required by God, although it was foreseen by Isaiah in the suffering servant figure.
- Jesus’ death resulted from a conspiracy of evil forces – political, religious and the crowd. Jesus spoke truth to power and was a threat to be eliminated. Jesus chose to drink the cup of suffering.
Anglican theologian Tom Wright says the power of victimhood overthrows the power of the sword. The concept here is one of martyrdom – that those who suffer in the cause of justice and love become a witness for the faith to others. In Jesus such suffering and its life-changing power is held up for all to see.
For a brilliant podcast on Tom Wight’s new book on Paul, in dialogue with Tom Holland, enter online YouTube Tom Holland and Tom Wright – 58 mins but worth every second.
Today’s gospel continues the theme from Genesis that we are all called into an unqualified relationship with God:
- We become one with God through Christ.
- It is not earned – it is pure gift; spontaneous, like love between two people
- “Rewards” to the prophets and righteous people are also pure gift (cf the labourers in vineyard Matthew 20.1-16)
- “The prophet’s reward” includes also exposure to persecution.
- The cup of water given to the least includes all on the margins in life and community. It also is pure gift with no return needed or sought.
So what is the take home message?
- Each of us is called/invite into a central relationship with God
- Love is at the heart – pure mutual gift
- We are called to proclaim God’s word and reach out to the community in mission
- The Church IS mission, not just a programme run by the church. Just as a fire exists by burning. (Cf Richard Niebuhr in Christ and Culture: mission is not saving people OUT of the world but building God’s reign IN the world).
- We witness in our workplace, community, and personal networks by the kind of people we are – sensitive, compassionate, speaking the truth and working for justice.
- The Rev. Wendy Scott’s research showed that sharing faith with others occurs most naturally in context of meeting them at their point of need eg. in a conversation about needs and relationships, illness or loss..
- In all of this we are sustained by worship, prayer and meditation.
Over 2000 years our understanding of God has grown:
- God does not require sacrifices for sin, let alone child sacrifices
- God is a God of love, not retribution.
- We are called to be channels of that love.