It's Not Too Late

Next Sunday's (16th) readings from Genesis present us with one of the most uncomfortable, disturbing stories in the entire Bible. But we before we come to that, let's begin on a happier note.  Abram and Sarai have been promised that through them and their descendants all the peoples of the world would be blessed. Abram receives that promise at 75, with Sarai of similar age. It doesn't seem to occur to him that this sounds a bit impossible: becoming parents at an age when many are grand- or even great-grandparents. They set out in faith anyway. Reality dawns (Genesis 18) with the arrival of heavenly visitors who tell them they will indeed conceive a child. Sarai laughs - and the son who is later born to them is called he laughs (Isaac). The message: in God's economy, it's 'not too late.'

Four chapters later (22) comes the nightmare scenario: Abraham sets off to sacrifice his own son.  It's important to remember here that in Abraham's time, this was not as shocking as it is to us. Ancient cultures believed that the highest honour one could pay a deity was the sacrifice of human blood, preferably one's son and heir. This would be a sign of devotion. So Abraham apparently is under that illusion. As the story unfolds, it turns out that God has provided an animal sacrifice instead and the improbable happens: a man intending to sacrifice his son, returns with him just the same. Once again, it is not too late!

McLaren makes the point that the lesson to be learned here  (for us, not just Abraham) is that we humans, not God, are the ones who treat our fellow humans cruelly. God needs nothing from us since he provides everything for us (p36). We need not to make God in our own image, but learn God's ways of justice, kindness and humility. This was a tough way to learn a lesson, but it was certainly effective! We always need to be examining our understanding of God.

Currently, we are planning our Christmas services. At the right time, Jesus came. It is never too late!