Gathering Growing Going
Booklets for the Bible Study series “What I love about Jesus is…” starting the week of 3 January 2021 are available here for download.
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It is a familiar episode—the test of Abraham in God’s command to offer up Isaac—his only son—as a burnt offering. Even like that, it confronts our sensibilities, even outrages them.
Laughter is such a marvelous sound. It reflects deep joy, deep happiness, and a delight that just bursts out. At the weaning feast for Isaac, there is another laughter – the laughter of scorn from the older brother (vs.9). Unnamed in this section, Ishmael sees his dreams dashed, and we see the pain of the consequences of sin. The episode is painful, but a reminder of sin’s sting. And we see the change that has happened in this man, as Abraham deals with Abimelech again (from verse 22). The foundation of the delight in God’s faithful mercy makes Abraham a changed man – open, honest, abounding in grace.
Abraham has grown - grown as a man of faith. And then, in his nomadic ways, settled near a powerful king, in Gerar, he stumbles. His besetting sin - that he cannot quite trust that God can make do without. Abraham taking matters into his own hands - rears its head - and he passes Sarah off as his sister, again (see Gen 12:10ff)!
And then, we remember that waiting for the promise of God can lead to us, too, wilting.The reminder is that the promises of God comes about, not because of what we bring to teh table, but because God himself is incredibly faithful, merciful and steadfast!
It is very easy to get over-familiar with Jesus. It is very easy to allow our familiarity with Jesus to spill over into a level of contempt – not obvious, but just there.
You see, we know a lot about Jesus – and that familiarity can lead to a level of contempt, perhaps even outrage, when we come to his proclamation and practice.
It certainly did in Jesus’ hometown. He returned home and his hometown was scandalised! They were familiar with this man – they knew his dad and mum, they still hung out with his brothers and sisters – and this is what he was saying, and doing? How could this Jesus rock the boat like that? What gave him the right to…?
Does that sound familiar? Have you ever had that moment when the Jesus you are familiar with said something, did something, that scandalised you? Has it ever prompted you to think, ‘Do I know this man, or do I KNOW this man?’
Every now and again, it is worth it to stop and pause and consider the things we are pursuing, what we are involved in, to take stock! At those moments, we ask questions about what gives us joy, what is valuable, what consumes us, what we are devoted to, what the long-term consequences are…