The Death of Isaac
"Abraham" by Bruce Feiler is subtitled "A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths." Feiler does a good job (at least, so far) of portraying the traditions and beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in regards to Abraham. There is a great deal that is similar. And some startling differences.The story of Abraham's offering of Isaac is central to the story in all three faiths. But questions abound as traditions grow and change. The account seems straightforward. God calls Abraham to sacrifice his "only" son (a description I've always found interesting because, after all, Isaac wasn't his only son). Abraham goes so far as to bind Isaac and pick up the knife. An angel stops the sacrifice and God provides a ram as a substitute for the son. Is there intent on Abraham's part to go through with it, or is he sure that God will stay his hand? Is Abraham actually testing God? What is Isaac's part in this? It's doubtful that he was a young boy. Some commentators put him in his thirties, some at 33 (!). This story is full of questions. But here are some from other traditions that I never considered.
Did Isaac die? One tradition holds that Abraham went through with the sacrifice and Isaac returned from death. Remarkably, it was the Jews who provided this theory. Even more remarkably, they held that Isaac was dead for three days before coming back! How much of this was a result of the Jewish leaders trying to wrest back a faith that they felt was being usurped by upstart Christians? Odd though that by making Isaac even more of a prefigurement of Christ, the Jews put forth a story that strengthened Jesus' messianic claim.
Here's an even further stretch: Was it Ishmael who was offered up rather than Isaac? This is (predictably) a claim put forth by Muslims and the support for it is found exclusively in their stories passed down through generations, changing as they go. Before we scoff too loudly at this though, we must consider how many of our Biblical interpretations have solidified in such a way.
If nothing else, these questions make us look at the story again and ask our own questions. And, as always, they make us think about what the story has to say to us. Do we have the faith of Abraham?
posted by Thurman8er @ 8:49 AM
2 Comments:
As much as I worry and pray for my only son I wonder about that question.
Wish you were here in P-dine with us.
Hi Steve: Thanks for the post.
I've got Fieler's book on Walking the Bible. I've read parts of it. I know lots of folks like it, but I'm not a real fan. I saw some of his TV appearances debunking the Jesus Tomb, but he comes across to me as the eternal searcher… never finding.
I'll stick with the Genesis account as is that speaks of Abraham's faith and Isaac's replacement, a ram that YHWH had provided.
Now there's prefiguration for you.
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