Theological Reflection on ABRAHAM II

Reflection: What is the importance of the story about Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice?

This question was posed for those studying the Old Testament in Year One of Education for Ministry (WK 9).

The Sacred Tools of Discernment indicated that the answer to this question may be obtained by reflecting on the primary influence of the tribe of ZEBULUN and the secondary influence of the tribe of ISSACHAR: Place + Work = Threshing Floor.

Goren (go’-ren) in Hebrew means the “threshing-floor.”

The text associated with Goren in the Hebrew Scriptures is associated with the story about Gideon and the sign of the fleece (see Judges 6:36-40).

This story appears in the Reaction section of the reflection cycle, which means that it was done as a test.

EXAMINATION

The first time Gideon sets up a test for YHWH, the answer is affirmative. This is the same for the faithfulness of Abraham.

CHANGES

The second time Gideon sets up the test; it is the reverse of the time before, and YHWH reverses the decision to sacrifice Isaac.

OUTCOME

The final outcome is a covenant promise for the descendants of Abraham through Isaac.

TODAY’S WORLD
Moral issues akin to Abraham prepared to kill his son for God is the moral issues regarding assisted suicide and harvesting organs of deceased persons for transplant. When is a person considered to be clinically dead: When the patient is brain dead, or when the heart stops: critical for successful organ transplant.

References:
See Bibliography: Sacred Tools of Discernment by Jonn Lavinnder