The Gods of Anxiety

(God spoke to Abraham) He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." - Genesis 22:2

We cannot look at this story through the lens of 21st century people. This is a story that was meant to be told to an audience who would have understood what child sacrifice was all about.  Rob Bell covers it so well in his book, What Is the Bible? 

Ancient religion began with a need.  A need to know the One who doled out the rain and sun and controlled the floods and famine.  And then they needed to know how to appease that god.  There were offerings to entice the gods to give you good fortune and then there were offerings of thanks when you had good fortune.  As Rob Bell explains, this religion that welled up in the earliest of humankind had anxiety built into it.  You never knew when and if you offered enough.  Bell says, 

"Whether things went well or not, the answer was always: Sacrifice more. Give more. Offer more. Because you never knew where you stood with the gods.  What is the most valuable thing you could offer the gods to show them how serious you were about earning their favor? A child."

So Abraham is not shocked at this request.  And if you read carefully, there are clues that Abraham may have known all along what God was up to. The thing is, this is not a story about Abraham's willingness to kill his son for God.  It is God showing Abraham that he is not a god of anxiety.  He is not a god who demands human sacrifice.  Quite the opposite.  He is the God who provides.  And at this time in human history, this was a mind-blowing concept.  God did not require Abraham to sacrifice his son. God only required faith and belief. 

Giving God,

Thank you that we never have to wonder if we please you enough to earn your love.  We need not earn anything from you.  You simply give.  Amen.