abraham , a question for those who still believe in god (page 2)

Robdar

Thanks, Rob.

The Book of Jasher relates that Abraham suffered terribly over this order.

He had to resort to trickery in order to get Isaac to go with him, and he didn't tell Sarah anything about it!

Let no one think that keeping the faith is easy!

We have had a similar discussion in our temple Torah study. We have also discussed that Isaac may have been really messed up psychologically from the event-- if it did happen. Truth is, we do not know. Most of us prefer to try to find different conclusions. With Jews, the important thing is to study and reflect upon the Torah in an effort to better understand God who is unknowable. Futility? You betcha, but it is stimulating too.

snowbird

You betcha, but it is stimulating too.

Yeah!

Oftentimes, I believe, we think of Biblical persons as being larger than life, somehow far removed from the frailties that plague us.

I think nothing can be farther from the truth!

Since leaving the WT behind, I find that things are not as cut-and-dried as we were led to believe.

I'm enjoying this journey of discovery!

Sylvia

leavingwt

God intervened and robbed Abraham of his free will. This spared the life of his son.

/snark

John Doe

Let no one think that keeping the faith is easy!

That begs the question, if you thought god was commanding you to kill people, would you do it?

BurnTheShips

I'm sure the rabbinical writings, the Mishnah, Talmud, and Hillel, Rambam, etc, must have some awesome insights into that event.

Christians generally see it as something that was written to prefigure a greater event that would be realized in the future in Jesus.

BTS

PSacramento

It was probably a metaphore for a very difficult choice that Abe had to do.

For some it seems quite thinkable that God would ask a huge sacrifice of one of his Children, but that is the kind of God they envision.

Fact is the test was NOT needed because God is all knowing and he KNEW what Abe would do IF he asked him.

The event probably never happened.

As for Jesus, Jesus's sacrifice was a voluntary one, Jesus decided that he would do this, it was his choice and HIS sacrifice.

snowbird

if you thought god was commanding you to kill people, would you do it?

Thought is the key word here.

I would have to know.

Sylvia

Mall Cop

God is unknowable and yet we claim he ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son. Man wrote this history about Abraham and the rest of the Hebrew scriptures. It's a history of the hebrew culture with man mixing in God related things that don't make sense.

God being unknowable, how could we believe that he would ask such a thing that affects the mental and emotional well-being of Abraham. God knew Abraham according to the history already written down by the hebrew writer.

We would not think of this unthinkable act concerning our own precious children and we are made in the image and likenes of God, so if we would not even think of this act, then neither would God.

Also we don't have the original manuscripts, it's all hand me down. I would not trust what man wrote about God and put the blame on God about such and such. Remember God is unknowable. Man is knowable and what he is capable of doing. All religions slant their story and historical relationship with God now Jesus their own way.

Blueblades

John Doe

Thought is the key word here.

I would have to know.

Sylvia

And how would you know?

snowbird

The same way Abraham knew, silly.

A personal Visitation.

Sylvia

abraham , a question for those who still believe in god

Share this