Look up

One of the more difficult scriptural passages from which to teach is one of the lectionary readings for this week -- Genesis 22:1-14. It's the story of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him.

As an illustration of how much of a probem this passage is for those who preach from it, take a look at the comments on Tuesday's Lectionary Leanings at RevGalBlogPals. The title of the post is "Was Abraham Crazy?" I've taught from this passage -- on Easter one year -- and just when you think you have a handle on it, the whole passage skitters away, and leaves you scratching your head.

As I was reading the comments on that post today, one of them struck me. Have you ever been reading something, and just stop, knowing that you've seen something that you have never noticed before?

Take a look at verses 11-14:

But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

There is a comment on the post above which asks the question -- What if Abraham hand't looked up? Are there times when we are so focused on what we want that we ignore what God wants? I thought those were great questions.

How hard is it to discern the will of God? Did Abraham have it right all of the time? Was he right to believe that God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac? Was it truly all a test?

Abraham messed up quiet often. Could this have been God's desperate attempt to convince Abraham to pay attention and do His will? Or was it only the last command -- a loud and powerful, "STOP!" that was God's actual will?

And which ever of those is the answer, what is Abraham had failed to look up? How often do we make horrible mistakes because we walk around ignoring God?