I found today’s discussion very interesting as I did not agree with many of the ideas mentioned. It was interesting to see how one person can look at the story of Abraham and Isaac and think it was violent and cruel, and how I can look at that story and see the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind out of His love. When I look at the story of Abraham and Isaac, I see how Abraham was faithful and loyal to God, going to sacrifice His son even though he more than likely questioned why, had doubts, and didn’t want to go through with this. He probably had a lot of doubt and wondered why God would want him to do such a thing. I think what we can take from this as Christians is that even though we might not know why something tragic is going on in our life, that we can trust that God has a plan and a purpose for it. This also parallels with other characters in the Bible such as Paul, Silas, Stephen, and others who went to prison, were killed tragically, and other horrible occurrences. But through it all God teaches us that this life is fleeting, and that trusting in Him is worthwhile. Abraham shows us as Christians, how to be faithful and loyal servants to God. After Abraham shows God his own faith through his actions (because faith without works is dead as mentioned in James 2:18-24 which also mentions this story of Abraham and Isaac), that he was willing to follow God and do His will at whatever the cost. Now there is the idea that this is completely ridiculous and why would we want a God that would want us to do such things? Well, it depends on if God and His word rules over our hearts or not. If God rules over our heart, we will trust that He is good, He is trustworthy, He is reliable, He is loving, and He is just. The Bible even states these truths about God’s character. But if we don’t believe in God’s character and who he says He is in His word, then we will not trust Him with our life. So Abraham shows us as Christians that we can trust God, and this story also points to the cross. Isaac is the foreshadowing of Christ Jesus who is to come, and be the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The reason God tells Abraham to do this to Isaac isn’t because God actually wants Abraham to kill his son, but because God wanted to foreshadow what was to come- Jesus. Had God actually wanted Isaac killed, He would’ve let it happen. But it didn’t, and so we know that God was trying to paint the bigger picture. Although we might not understand why bloodshed is necessary for forgiveness of sins, we know from the beginning of the Bible that sacrifice is required for forgiveness. In the Old Testament, this sacrifice was through animals. In the New Testament, Jesus is the sacrificial lamb for the payment of the sins of the entire world. Whatever the reason is for blood to be shed for forgiveness, we are not God, so as Christians we need to trust that there is consequence for sin. When God tells us to “turn the other cheek” as stated in Matthew 5:38-40, He is referencing forgiveness, which is absorbing another person’s sin, taking it on themselves, and not showing wrath on the other person who sinned against us which is exactly what Jesus did. The purpose for animal sacrifice in the OT was to showcase and foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If we trust in Jesus’ death for our sins, He forgives us of them, and gives us what we really don’t deserve which is eternal life with Him despite our terrible sin committed against Him. That’s why it is the Good News!
As Christians, it is completely normal and in our human nature to ask questions, and think about ideas. If we really want God to be the Creator and ourselves to be the Creation, then we will realize that His ways are not our ways, that we lack in understanding, and that we aren’t God. Wanting God to be something He is not, is not wanting the one true God– it’s wanting God however we want Him to be–and that’s just wanting ourselves to be God. If God truly has authority over our lives, we will make sure that we humble ourselves before Him, and if we are confused or don’t understand the Bible, to realize that it is our lack of understanding that makes it that way instead of the Bible being flawed. As Christians, we need to have a foundation of trust on the word of God and on its teachings. If we don’t believe the Bible to be trustworthy, then what are we trusting? John 17:17 is Jesus praying to God and saying that God’s word is God’s, and that it is true. John 8:31-32 talks about how those who abide in God’s word are Jesus’ disciples and know the truth. If we deny God’s word to be breathed from God into man and true, then we deny both the word of God, and God as a whole because we are not trusting that He is who He says He is. Matthew 4:4 states how the word of God is essential to living in the Christian faith. Luke 24:44, Matthew 5:7-18, John 10:34-35, John 12:48, and many other verses talk about the validity and truth in God’s word, and that it is God-inspired and God-written by the Holy Spirit through man. Another point that I found interesting was that Jesus’ sacrifice was mentioned as problematic and comparable to child abuse. This would mean that there would be no belief of Jesus being God which is stated in John 1:14, John 1:1, John 10:30, John 8:58, John 20:28, Isaiah 9:6, Titus 2:13, Colossians 2:9, and several other verses throughout the Bible. With the belief of Jesus being God, that would mean that Jesus agrees with God the Father, which agrees with the Holy Spirit because God is trinitarian in nature. If Jesus willingly went to the cross, which He did as stated in John 10:17-18 and John 10:11, then that means that he wasn’t being abused or doing something against His own will. He lovingly went to the cross for our sins, as stated in the previous verses. Love isn’t always butterflies and rainbows, and the Bible teaches us that love can be sacrifice and suffering, which is what Jesus did for us to receive eternal life.