So you got this friend
and his kid is in trouble. He’s in the kind of trouble that it may be impossible to extricate himself from. Your friend’s kid is going to take the fall for soemthing he didn’t do, and you know that.
Money might help, maybe, so you go to the bank and withdraw your 401K and your kids college funds and put it in a cashier’s check and take it to your friend. He looks at you with tears in his eyes, and says “No. I will do this on my own, and my son will face this on his own. But you are a real friend, and I will remember the offer you made me this day” He didn’t accept your offer, just as the Lord chose not to accept the offer of Abraham.
This is the difference between offer, and sacrifice. You offer your money to your friend, willing to make the fiscal sacrifice it will entail. It is the offer that is critical, the willingness to make the sacrifice, not the sacrifice itself. THe fact that you were willing to offer your friend your lifesavings to help him, though the help you offered would devastate you. it may be hackneyed, but it truly is the thought that counts.
The Lord of Abraham and Isaac made it clear that he desired Abraham to OFFER his son. And he did, freely, and willingly. The Lord of Abraham tested the whole human race on that day, in the land of Mori′ah, and did not find them wanting. As long as one man, chosen by God, was willing to offer everything he valued to the Lord, then the Lord did not despair of the whole race. This is as much a test and as important a test as the flood, because from that moment on, had Abraham withheld Isaac, the Lord might have actually abandoned us. Instead he gave us HIS only son, to be the last sacrifice.
In a time when people are sacrificing their children in “Gun Free Zones” to appease the false god of safety, we need to be reminded that the man whose birth we celebrate tomorrow is the last human sacrifice to the Creator, a covenant between humans and the Lord who created us.
12 comments Og | Uncategorized
The first offering was IMO indeed only that as my readers know. I heard from a few rabbis explain that it was so because then the priests of other gods couldn’t point to Ours and and say He didn’t ask. He asked for the offering JUST SO HE COULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IS NOT WHAT HE WANTS.
See we have always had a great many weak people, both back then and now, who lack faith that He (or Natural Law) gave us enough sense and intelligence to replenish the Earth (as He asked in the very first command in Genesis.) So there will always be many more few of us who have that faith. It is through those who do that we have been permitted to advance to the point of taking our good fortune for granted. And we have allowed the most fearful of our numbers to rise to the position of ruling us again. It is easy for me and those like me to see that the Sustainability crowd are contemporary pagans with all the fear and hatred for the masses of humanity that the ancients possessed. So it really comes down to the few of us trying to convince the vast majority. Since it appears we cannot, Christianity provides an outlet to salve our frustrations. But both honest Christianity and honest Judaism remember that innocents are not to be sacrificed at all costs. And we are not to tolerate the redefinition of innocence either. Utilitarians have been doing that, and you cannot deny it. Children who are retarded or lame in some other way, are a burden. The old, especially in their last years, cost too much and to hell with sentiments or loyalty or gratitude for their years of service. So to utilitarians they are no longer innocent and can be sacrificed to Mammon (the god of the love of money and reducing expenses).
Damn this is too long I fear, but there is so much territory this discussion of offering of sacrifice opens up. Sorry Og. Edit at will and maybe I’ll offer anew.
lol. No, it’s fine as it stands. Only the few hardcore will read today anyway. Thanks!
This is an important lesson, indeed.
I guess I’m hardcore then. You’re posts today (and Pascal’s response) have been inspirational – thank you.
Merry Christmas!
Most of us remember the death cult reference in the bible as ba’al worship. That was widely practiced in the time of Abraham as well as during Moses time.
We see that same belief today in Islam.
I have one son who is 11, and I would be hard pressed to offer him to God on God’s request. Not sure what I would do as I am sure Abraham did not think about offerring his son before God asked.
I am babbling now. Off to hot toddy.
Merry Christmas, Paul. Isn’t it grand that all those years ago, Abraham had that strength?
Og: Thanks for posting this as it provides and additional and important insight for your post of earlier today.
Slash: Thanks for the thanks, as hearing it makes for me a merrier Christmas indeed.
Paul, I think Ba’al’s name shows up more frequently in scripture, but I think it is Moloch’s furnace which is most strongly proscribed.
Sacrifice to Moloch is also specifically proscribed in the whole first part of Levit 20.
And as a warning to “kingdoms” which do well and forget their principles, we learn in 1 Kings 11:7 that even “wise” Solomon erected for the sake of one his wives a house for Moloch.
(And such is the danger of making questionable alliances that are tied to concessions that run contrary to national conscience for the sake of gaining a little “peace.” How many in America, outside of Neanderpundit readers, see the parallel?)
Pascal, what a great insight. Thank you, and Merry Christmas :)
You are welcome Nathan. And a very comforting season may it be for you.
Hardcore here.
Merry Christmas.
Same here. Why is it so very hard for people to grasp the difference between intent to act, physically carrying out the act (the offering), and in so doing the willingness to accept the sacrifice(s) involved? Probably the same folks who have a problem in figuring out the difference between charity and “assistance from the government”.
In any case, Merry Christmas to all!
Merry Christmas to you, Og. I guess I must be hardcore, too. :)