Verified Document

Genesis 22:1-19: Meditation The Biblical Essay

Related Topics:

He mourns the circumstances of the world that demands the sacrifice, even while he gives it willingly, trusting in the goodness of God and God's larger plan. Having faith does not mean that one does not feel sorrow at the inevitable. It is not sinful to feel sad that physical death is a part of the human, fallen world. A woman who loses her elderly mother will still weep, even though she knows that death comes to us all even while she also believes that eternal life comes to us all. The tears, like Abraham's heavy heart, are evidence of our humanity, even while, like Abraham, we believe that God will spare us at the end of time. Simultaneously in the moment of losing a loved one, with the same heavy heart felt by Abraham, believers also know that God will provide the sacrifice for the burnt offering -- God's only Son. Christians have long read Genesis 22 as a typological foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of humanity on the cross....

Jesus is similarly given and taken away as a sacrifice in a manner that parallels Isaac: although Jesus suffers and dies in the physical world, the Son lives on in a reborn, physical and spiritual sense, like Isaac lives another day.
God's demand of Abraham shows that He does not ask of human beings more than He is willing to give himself: God gives His son, His faith and trust in human redemption, and gives His gift freely, without preconditions, as Abraham readied his sacrifice of Isaac. Of course, Abraham, a human being, could only trust in providence and could not foresee the larger plan of God in the demand of such a sacrifice, anymore than we humans can fully comprehend the sacrifices God demands of us. However, we can learn from Abraham's spiritual example.

Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006).

Sources used in this document:
Simultaneously in the moment of losing a loved one, with the same heavy heart felt by Abraham, believers also know that God will provide the sacrifice for the burnt offering -- God's only Son. Christians have long read Genesis 22 as a typological foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of humanity on the cross. Isaac is a young innocent and a miraculous gift from God to the childless Abraham. Jesus is similarly given and taken away as a sacrifice in a manner that parallels Isaac: although Jesus suffers and dies in the physical world, the Son lives on in a reborn, physical and spiritual sense, like Isaac lives another day.

God's demand of Abraham shows that He does not ask of human beings more than He is willing to give himself: God gives His son, His faith and trust in human redemption, and gives His gift freely, without preconditions, as Abraham readied his sacrifice of Isaac. Of course, Abraham, a human being, could only trust in providence and could not foresee the larger plan of God in the demand of such a sacrifice, anymore than we humans can fully comprehend the sacrifices God demands of us. However, we can learn from Abraham's spiritual example.

Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006).
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life He
Words: 35411 Length: 109 Document Type: Dissertation

Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life "He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was

Concept of God in Judaism and Christianity
Words: 14079 Length: 30 Document Type: Term Paper

history medical studies have concluded that prayer helps to heal the sick. Many political meetings begin with a prayer and American currency has the words "In God We Trust" imprinted on its face. Around the world God is a powerful deity and one that has historically led entire societies to make decisions based on God's word. While God has been the single deity that leads and guides societies in

Isaiah Delivered the Jubilee Message
Words: 3410 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

They could only be disposed of, as it were, by leases till the year of jubilee, and were then to return to the seller or his heir." This would preserve familial and tribal heritage as well as prevent the wealthy from being able to incur large masses of land, thus keeping certain families in extreme poverty. It gives all Israelites their liberty, as well as treats them all as equals,

Applying Servant Leadership Within a
Words: 30193 Length: 109 Document Type: Thesis

Furthermore, when groups began people naturally turned to the group leader for direction and advice. It would be accurate to state that most of the relating was to the group leader at that point. However, by exercising linking behavior, I was able to get the group members to look to each other for understanding and help. Initially, I had to point out when people were saying things that would indicate

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now