May 2

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READINGS FOR MAY 2, 2024: GENESIS 22, 2 CORINTHIANS 4, PSALM 37:12-26   

GENESIS 22 This chapter has caused readers to struggle, marvel, and even mock God. Here is a comment by Richard Dawkins, well-known atheist and ridiculer of Christianity: “This disgraceful story is an example simultaneously of child abuse, bullying in two asymmetrical power relationships, and the first recorded use of the Nuremberg defense: ‘I was only obeying orders.”’  While Dawkins’s attitude is reprehensible, those who question the sacrifice of Isaac deserve thoughtful consideration and response.  To do this, we must carefully look at God’s purpose for and relationship with Abraham as well as the commentary of the New Testament writers.  We will try to squeeze all this into a few paragraphs. 

By now, we know that Abraham had experienced the miraculous power of God to achieve His plan for the world through Abraham despite overwhelming barriers. Abraham received a message directly from God about the project at the outset. Although Sarah and he were past age, they had a son together. Subsequently, he received another message from God that Isaac, not Ishmael, would be used to bless the entire world. 

All this was confirmed by God in what was called an “everlasting covenant.” Abraham thus had an advanced understanding of God’s power and his own unique role in God’s plan for the world: “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’  So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal.3:7-9).

Based on all this and to refute Dawkins, we know that Abraham had a well-founded belief his obedience to God would not result in the ultimate loss of this child of promise. This is confirmed in the book of Hebrews, even though Abraham was wrong on one detail: “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death” (Heb. 11:17-19). This entire story points to that greater sacrifice: Jesus’s death and resurrection. 

Moses says in Genesis 22 that this command by God was meant to test Abraham and after Abraham passed the test God said He knew Abraham feared Him. Did not the omniscient God know this already? Why was this test necessary? Let’s consider James: “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend” (James 2:20-23). 

According to James, faith is not really complete until it is actualized by an act. Perhaps “the man of faith” and the father of all who have faith needed to demonstrate complete faith by his accompanying act of faith. How could God present Abraham as a hero of faith if He could only point to what was in Abraham’s heart and not what he did?  Yes, God knew Abraham feared Him in his heart before the sacrifice, but now God also “knew” based upon what Abraham did. 

2 Corinthians 4 Paul opens this chapter by affirming that the ministry he has been given helps him to stay positive in challenging times. Yes, it is true many of us cannot travel as Paul did, until he was jailed in Rome and was forced to communicate through letters.  Of course, these Pauline letters have testified for Jesus in every century and country since then. Many of us at our church remember Emily’s Sear’s letter-writing. Hundreds were encouraged through her ministry. Here are a few more ministry ideas from the Bible:

  • “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many” (2 Cor. 1:11);
  • “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:19);
  • “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you” (1 Sam. 12:25);
  • “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored” (2 Thess. 3:1);
  • “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:32).

Are we praying for spreading the Gospel, for God to be honored, for family to be saved?Paul knows his physical body is declining but believes his spirit can strengthen. That’s where he is placing his emphasis in his later years, along with anticipating eternity. THIS IS WISDOM!

PSALM 37:12-26 The first verses suggest that there are lots of smart but short-sighted people who make evil plans against the poor and needy.  Is this still true?  “It’s ‘overwhelming,’ said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, during a[n] interview with AARP at the Department of Justice (DOJ) about what the federal government is doing to fight fraud — which is often aimed at older adults. He said that while the DOJ is dedicated to the effort, it’s challenged by the fact that these crimes are ‘innovative and constantly changing.’”   Here’s another case: “Taxpayers are losing more than $100 billion a year to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, according to estimates from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.”

The fact that these deceivers think they will get away with this is laughable, according to this Psalm. God will hold them accountable. Those who live honestly have an inheritance that can’t be stolen or lose value. There is no need to be envious. Instead, we should double down on being generous, especially to those who are believers.  This is God’s original social safety net, so that the following will always be the case: “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25).