“Faith in God’s Provision”
Psalm 14 & Genesis 22: 1-14 ~ Northwood UC ~ July 2, 2023
It seems like the lectionary has been quite cruel these past few weeks! No water being turned into wine at the wedding feast; no little children upon Jesus’ loving knee. Last week, we focused on divisions within families that arise as a result of following Jesus’ way. And this week, we focus on the sacrifice of Isaac. We do not relish the thought of families divided. And the mere thought of sacrificing one’s child abhors us all! These texts might cause us to stay home on a Canada Day long weekend and avoid the content. What I am going to suggest in our conversation is that they are part of our faith and must not be avoided. And so, we take a deep dive into faith.
There is a Yiddish folk tale that relates to this passage: ‘Why did God not send an angel to tell Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? God didn’t send an angel because God knew that no angel would take on such a task. Instead, the angels said, “If you want to command death, do it yourself.” The story in Genesis 22 is what Christians call “the sacrifice of Isaac” and what is known by the Jewish community as “the akedah”, which means “the binding of Isaac.” This passage has prompted heated debate over the centuries. Is it a story of an abusive God, or a misguided Abraham, or an instance of religious violence at its worst? Or is it a story of deep faith in a God who provides? In this morning’s conversation, I would like to suggest that it is the later.
Now scholars have noted that subsequent texts after Genesis expressly forbid child sacrifice. If we were to read on in the biblical canon we would find texts such as Leviticus, Jeremiah and Ezekiel all opposing the sacrifice of a child. So, any notion of God requiring the sacrifice of a child has long since been removed. Jeremiah refers to it as “an abomination”; Ezekiel describes it as something which “defiles”; and Leviticus names it as being “profane” to God. However, this practice must have been performed in cultures surrounding Israel, perhaps even in Israel itself because the prophets go out of their way to strictly condemned it! So, as we view this text with 21st Century eyes (or even since the writings of 6th Century Leviticus and Ezekiel), we must understand that God abhors any violence towards a child.
As we gather in worship on this Canada Day long weekend, I wonder if a modern day parallel, we might consider is the sending out of our young sons and daughters to war over the last century. How it felt to your family to have sent out a son or daughter, a member of your family, to serve their country? Sending them out with the very real possibility that they may not return home. We sing “O Canada” and light fireworks and wear our red and white; however, sometimes we forget the sacrifices that were made. Sadly, sometimes the last resort is war and we deeply lament human conflicts and sacrifice. We detest that verse in Ecclesiastes that “for everything there is a season…a time for war, and a time for peace.” Yet, we honour and give thanks for the sacrifices of so many who have allowed for an era of peace to dawn, and for the relative harmony that we continue to enjoy.
What I would suggest that this text is giving us insight into is the profound depth of faith that Abraham, the father of three great faith traditions, truly possessed. We opened by singing the beloved hymn “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky”. And we love its melody and we sway to its rhythm. That hymn is also known as “Here I Am, Lord”. But, it takes on a different feel, as we hold in the pit of our stomach the faithful response of Abraham over and over: “Here I am” it holds a different feeling. The passage begins telling us that God is testing Abraham and (just like in the hymn) Abraham responds “Here I am, Lord”. The story develops…Abraham and his son…with the wood for the fire and the knife for the sacrifice are travelling towards the mountain, the son innocently calls to his father. And again Abraham responds “Here I am.” And at the height of the story as the knife is raised over Isaac, the angel calls to Abraham, and he responds “Here I am.” And there in the brush is a young ram, whose horns are caught up in the thicket. A sacrifice is provided! Here I am responds Abraham: to God, to his son, and to the angel. And God faithfully provides.
One of my favourite Christmas hymns is the touching song “Mary Did You Know.” That song holds in tension the joyful exuberance of our favourite Christmas carols such as “Joy to the World” or “Angels We Have Heard on High” alongside the reality of the hard world Jesus is born into. “Mary Did You Know” is a softly sung Christmas piece that is filled with pain. A reminder that Mary’s son would be born into a world that would ultimately reject him. A world that would reject his teachings, his ways, his unconditional love, and seek to squash it with a horrible death. “Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight…will calm the storm…will walk where angels trod…Mary did you know when you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God.” And on that darkened Friday that only God could make good, this new way of God would demonstrate God’s true power over the forces of all evil. There is that balance in this song of Mary’s deep faith and God’s provision.
And I think a deep faith rooted in God’s provision is what this text is truly all about. The story in Genesis begins “after these things.” After what things, we ask? The things being referred to are amazing acts of God’s provision. God calls Abram and Sarai to leave their country and venture forth to the land that is promised. God provides the Promised Land for them to journey towards. And Abram and Sarai pack up and leave with a deep faith in God’s provision. They will form the beginning of a great nation. God will bless them, and they will be a blessing! There are more challenges and uncertainties that will arise…many years follow and there are no children for the couple. Will the lineage end for them, they wonder? Yet, in their elderly years, they birth Ishmael. An impossible birth God provides, and they name him Ishmael, which means ‘laughter’. We begin to see the pattern of faith in a God who provides. God provides the Promised Land for the generations; God provides offspring for the generations to unfold; and to the unthinkable dilemma: the sacrifice of one’s child God provides again…a ram caught in the thicket. God provides…God provides…God provides.
Janis Joplin once sang “O Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.” We all know that’s not faith. That is a fun folk song. Faith in a God who provides is faith. Faith in God’s provision is faith. Franklin D. Roosevelt is remembered in his 1932 presidential campaign as saying “when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it, and hang on.” That’s faith…knowing that God will provide. As you hang there in the uncertainties, in the pain, in the struggle…knowing that God will provide.
This faith story of Abraham occurred at Mount Moriah which is forever remembered as ‘the place where the Lord provided.’ There is an interesting word-play worth noting here. The Hebrew word for provide id ‘ra-ah’. It is literally the word for “seeing.” The last phrase in the text can equally be read “on the mount of the Lord it shall be provided” or “on the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” This was the transfiguration moment of full sight; when Abraham fully comprehended God’s way of provision; when Abraham’s faith realized the nature of God who would be with him…even in the deepest of his challenges. This was faith!
I wonder where your challenging moments have been, of late? Where have you felt deeply challenged in your living, in your loving, in your serving? When have you reached the end of your rope, tied it off, and clung only to your faith? I know those moments have been real. Some of you have shared some with me. Some have shared them with other trusted individuals. And we all have shared them with in the quiet still moments with God.
Many of you gathered a week ago for the Celebration of Life for Ruth Smith, a long-time member of this congregation, and of Oak Avenue. As you know, Ruth’s faith allowed her to design the entire service as a gift to those who would mourn. Like Abraham, Ruth’s faith was one that inspired those she shared life with. I remember her, comforting us in her last days: comforting us from her rocking chair, then at bedside, then at Langley hospice. In her last days, she did not look like herself…losing so much weight…speaking was laboured…then impossible. Yet, the twinkle in her eyes never left. You will remember that twinkle. That was the twinkle of her faith. A faith in a God who would be near her; a faith in a God who would provide; a faith in a God / Emmanuel – who is always with us.
May we hold faith in a God who provided…a God who provides…a God who will never leave us alone. Thanks be to God.
Amen.