02 Jul SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2023
“Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.” If a person does right by you, Jesus will consider they’ve done right by him and who sent him. Although it sounds like the same code sanctioned by prisoners, gangs and crime syndicates, the idea of caring for your own, or assigning “credit by association” is as old as time.
Jesus always gave credit to God and represented God in a similar way to how Jesus wished to convey the same to his disciples. He taught disciples with the intention of appointing them as representatives, diplomats, as it were, emissaries of God afforded the privilege of conducting God’s business abroad in foreign territories, unfamiliar, and potentially hostile.
Unlike Americans who travel abroad with a passport denoting they’re a proud U.S. citizen, Jesus’ disciples could do no such thing. They could not expect recognition, respect, or protection based on where they called home, who had sent them, ticket class distinction, or destination. They had no preferred status. In fact, who they claimed to represent would most likely work against them.
They could count on their baggage being mishandled or lost, having no assigned seat or place to store a carry-on, being last to board or disembark, getting stuck, delayed and discouraged at every turn. So, it would be quite uncommon to find themselves welcomed. Such it itself, would be a welcomed turn of events.
Jesus already warned them of persecution, slander, and mistreatment. But in this passage, he reveals another possibility. It’s possible they can expect to be received according to Jesus and the Father, to show their passport and have someone recognize the nation of God who sanctioned their travel.
When the TSA or customs agent looks at their ID and matches it with their ticket seeing that a prophet stands before them, they will receive a prophet’s welcome. Everyone else in line will be left wondering what type of reward program the disciples paid so much extra to join or what level of frequent flier status they earned and how.
Most people, including yours truly, expects certain treatment based on things like these: their ability to pay, their freedom to choose, level of seniority, status of citizenship, member benefits, or some other entitlement. Jesus says to the twelve, “Expect no special treatment, but if you should receive it, I’ll take note. Whoever welcomes you will be rewarded as though they welcomed me and the one who sent me.”
People who act in the worst ways when disappointed are also most often self-righteous. They feel as though they deserve better than they get. Jesus says, “Let me give out the designation of righteous. It’s not something claimed for oneself. It cannot be earned or bought. Only myself and others who are righteous will recognize who deserves that stamp. The smallest kindness or consideration, such as a cup of cold water, will not go unnoticed by me. Mark my word, it will not be unrewarded.
So how does a God who recognizes the smallest kindness or consideration ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son? First of all, it’s important to realize the story is NOT an example of biblical text with universal application. It is specific to the relationship of Abraham and God. Only they understood the complexity and significance of the whole scenario.
Plus, the account was not taken from Abraham’s diary. It was interpreted through the lens of oral history and religious intent. The story begins, “God tested Abraham.” In fact, he did, or at least Abraham was tested. But was that the purpose, a test of loyalty? Is God really a mafia Godfather or gang leader requiring spilt blood to prove allegiance?
You know what it’s like to come through a trial. Saying you were tested is one way to admit the outcome could’ve gone a number of ways. We or someone we love may have failed or perished, but they didn’t, or perhaps they did.
Saying we were tested means that after a period of time we learned something about ourselves after going through an ordeal. The historic definition of ordeal is an ancient test of guilt or innocence. It subjects the accused to severe pain. Survival is divine proof of innocence. It’s cruel and unusual. Did God really test Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son?
If we admit something good comes from hardship, we too might say, “we were tested.” But I don’t believe God tests anyone for sport or to win a competition with Satan or to prove a person’s mettle. So what gives? Let’s see what else transpires in the story, look for parallel verses and possible other meanings.
God called Abraham by name and he responded, “Here I am.” On top of mount Moriah, Isaac called his father by name and Abraham responded, “Here I am.” In both cases, Abraham responded to a voice he recognized, trusted, and loved. One doesn’t respond when called by a stranger or enemy. Do you answer phone calls that say “Unknown Caller” or that are from a number you don’t recognize? No, you don’t. You only respond and affirm those you trust, those you love, and those seeking reassurance.
During VBS, I had to teach little children about slavery, plagues, the event called Passover, and Jesus’ death on the cross. The stories weren’t rated G, some characters were evil, the scenes disgusting. What every story had in common was clear evidence that God gives specific instructions for a reason.
And when people follow God’s advice or instructions, whether they are Israelites or Egyptians, things would be okay. They’d get through stuff. The idea was to listen to God’s word and do as asked, to pay attention to details, learn what to do, how and when to do what God asks. If anyone bothered to listen, believe, and follow God’s instruction as given, they could avoid the worst of outcomes.
Throughout the Old Testament, the death of beasts and humans was NEVER God’s intention or desire. It was all I could do to try and explain to the children at VBS why Jesus had to die like the one year old Passover Lamb, innocently and tragically. I could say he died of his own free will, and it was necessary because people were slaves to sin and couldn’t get free any other way. Come to think of it, the price of freedom does often entail death, and willingness to sacrifice a life does prove one’s loyalty and degree of love.
God gives specific instructions for a reason.
God admittedly knew that Isaac was now Abraham’s only son and heir whom he loved. God also knew that child sacrifice was pagan and an abomination, disgusting and hateful. In the Book of 2 Kings 16:3, King Ahab, (quote)“did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD…He even burned his son as an offering according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.”
The Books of Ezekial, Deuteronomy, and 1 Corinithians mention that child sacrifice was offered to demons, not God. Nothing makes sense other than Abraham knowing all along that God would provide an alternative end to the story. Why else would he tell the young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there, worship and come back to you.” At first it seems plausible he would say that to insure they wouldn’t hinder the plan or intervene, but it was the plain truth.
I also can’t fathom the idea of Isaac being 10 when this happened. All I have to do is think of children I know around that age and think of how traumatized they would be. So I have to stop myself and say, “This was one time, between Abraham, God and Isaac.” He was old enough to wonder why he and his dad were hauling wood, fire and a knife up the mountain, but no lamb to sacrifice. Again, Abraham explains the truth, without making an excuse. “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”
Such drama. Not so kid-friendly, right? So Abraham did everything exactly as he was told, in order, at the correct time. That’s key. Unfortunately, this story traumatized me as a child. I thought, “What kind of God would do that to a parent or child as some test?”
It seems unnecessary and cruel. And I believe God to be clever enough to come up with a different test that won’t scar everyone for life. As an adult, I wonder what would have happened if Sarah, Isaac’s mother, got wind of the plan. Was it okay for Abraham to keep the trip to Mount Moriah a secret from her? After all, Isaac was the child of her old age and the fulfillment of her dreams, too. It seems as though Abraham had to have known he wouldn’t return home without their son though it may have been impossible to convince her of that in advance, lol?
So, there we have it. A story told through the lens of historic/religious significance that foreshadows what’s known as substitutionary atonement theory: The idea that God will provide a substitute sacrifice to atone for the sin of the entire world rather than punish individuals one by one.
So, what’s the connecting thread between the Old Testament and New? I think it’s that God is the same and has always been aware of how we treat others, how we feel about others, how we are treated, welcomed or rejected according to our relationship to God. Father and son are connected, Jesus and disciples are connected, strangers and guests are connected by recognizing under whose jurisdiction they are recognized as citizens and being sent forth.
The angel of the LORD, who remember, might have been a regular angel/messenger of God or the pre-incarnate Jesus, called to Abraham from heaven by name. He responded, “Here I am.” Had he not been listening, he wouldn’t have received the updated instruction to NOT lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him.” The catch phrase at the end of the story is, “Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Is that not exactly how we may understand God’s love for us? It was not out of fear, respect, or admiration that God gave his only son’s life for us, but out of love. Out of love, his son, a grown man, not a child, offered up his own life to quell the uncontrollable desire of humanity to dominate while under the influence of God’s enemy, Satan, fueled by the power of sin.
Jesus appeared as a ram caught in the thicket by its horns, provided to make true the prophecy of being saved by the blood of a lamb, which was first spelled out at Passover when the Israelites were told exactly how to select the lamb, what herbs and by what means to cook and eat it, to not save any leftovers, but to burn them in the fire sending smoke up to heaven. The kids at VBS understood this quite well after seeing smoke from wildfires travel from Canada all the way to Pennsylvania.
That’s the point. What makes a story believable? That it’s true exactly as told, or that you understand it from a personal viewpoint? Unless we understand the value of those we love and the grief of losing them, we won’t have a clue what God sacrificed on our behalf or was willing to suffer because of love. If we don’t get that, the story is lost on us. Let us pray.
Dear Lord, we identify with you and those whose stories you’ve passed down so we understand the value of kindness, consideration, love and loyalty. We trust your intentions and desires for our lives and offer them to you as a living sacrifice this week as we celebrate national and religious freedom as our country’s proud heritage. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.