Abraham’s seriousness and dedication in regards to his covenant with God control tense actions and events between Abraham and Isaac. Abraham is compelled in his actions by his understanding and faith that his belief in God will reap benefits. Without hesitation, he considers doing everything that God tells him to do. Abraham’s willingness and sacrifice of Isaac show the great power that God has over Abraham. Abraham’s desire for God’s approval and blessings compel him toward grave actions without the concrete command from God. Abraham merely implies God’s intentions from the limited conversations held between Abraham, God, and the angel.
The unspoken dialogue between the characters put emphasis on the implicit ideas of the covenant that Abraham must follow. Abraham sees that he must fully envelop himself in the belief and trust in God. The absence of major dialogue creates the implications of the covenant that are not spoken but are natural to Abraham. He finds it necessary to obey God’s orders to the best of his ability regardless of the consequences or personal anguish. The basis of Abraham’s actions is set by what little dialogue there is. God speaks to Abraham and tells him to merely make an offering and Abraham interprets God’s task and is compelled to sacrifice Isaac to prove his worth to God. Abraham assumes what God wants of him in order to complete the covenant. As Abraham sacrifices Isaac, they do not exchange words which expresses Abraham’s solemn attitude in his attempt to complete his task. As events pass, Isaac’s only question to Abraham is “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22: 7). Isaac naïvely does not question Abraham’s motives or inquires further on the course of events. He is vaguely reassur...
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...e son. As Abraham wills himself to slaughter Isaac, be sees that “there was a ram” (Genesis 22: 13). The appearance of the ram by God’s will, at just the right moment blesses Abraham by sparing Isaac’s life. The objects timely appearances demonstrate God’s involvement in Abraham’s completion of his task and the rewards Abraham reaps for trusting in God.
In believing and trusting that God is only putting him through a test of faith and belief, Abraham is able to complete tasks what he would otherwise not be capable of. He puts God before all else in his sacrifice of Isaac and disregards his parental feelings as well as Isaac’s feelings. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac only to prove his worth to God gains him credibility. Abraham is able to prove himself to God and complete the covenant which leads to great benefits to Abraham and his descendents.
Nathaniel Abraham was eleven years old when he committed the act of murder. Under a 1997 Michigan law a child of any age may be tried as an adult for severe crimes. Abraham was the first juvenile to be tried under this statute. Accused in the murder of Ronnie Lee Greene Jr., Abraham faced first degree murder charges. Now, at the age of fourteen, Nathaniel has been sentenced to a juvenile facility until the age of twenty-one. Oakland County Probate Judge Eugene Moore hopes that rehabilitation will put an end to Nathaniel’s criminal activity. Nathaniel, a black youth from the slums of Pontiac, Michigan, grew up with out a father, or a strong family unit. He, in turn, never learned the responsibility of his actions; he was not privy to an upbringing that reinforced positive ideals. Crime & Criminology describes, in depth, the relation between family and criminal activity in youths. Page 126 (chapter four) sited two relevant facts; 1) Blacks have much higher rates of illegitimacy and female headed house holds. 2) Blacks have a much higher rate of crime than their white counterparts. In Nathaniel’s case, it can be said that his lack of a positive role model, or father figure lead to his involvement in criminal activities. His mother, Gloria, was struggling to raise three children by herself. Nathaniel’s father had left when he was born, leaving her with no one to depend on. The family moved in with an older couple who offered to help them. With limited supervision Nathaniel was a constant source of aggravation for his mother. Police reported that Nathaniel was suspected in over 22 local crimes, ranging from assault to armed robbery. He, in fact, had been arrested five days before Greene’s murder on the charge of robbery. All this by the age of eleven. In families where there is no male role model a child is far more likely to become involved in crime. The data that exists suggests a direct correlation between youths raised without a father and criminal activity.
Abraham obeyed God by preparing wood and loading his donkey and took away Isaac and two servants with him. On reaching the place ordered by God, Abraham built an Alter and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son and placed him on altar, on top of the wood and picked up the knife to kill him. Abraham was stopped by the Lord’s voice from heaven telling him, he was an obedient man who honored God. The angel of God confirmed to him how God would richly bless him and give him many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore.
Abraham is deemed the founder and one of three patriarchs of the Jewish faith. In Fundamental Theology, by Heinrich Fries, a detailed description of Abraham’s journey and faith is given. A summary of Fries explanation is that Abraham’s name was originally Abram. He was considered a “nomadic chief” from Mesopotamia. God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave his home and country. This was one of many tests Abraham faced. In the words of the Bible, Abraham was t...
A covenant has been defined as an agreement by two groups of people, one more powerful than the other, and the inferior group held accountable until the agreement or bond has been fulfilled or satisfied by the lesser of the two. The lesser of the two also agrees to remain loyal to the powerful or dominant and by the same token the powerful has the obligation to provide protection. In Abrahams late age God came to him with a covenant making him fertile and is to become the father and ancestor of many nations and which will bear many kings from generation to generation. The covenant included the circumcision of every man and child that was 8 days and older which gave everyone including God sign of acceptance of the covenant and those who did not accept the circumcision will be considered as not in agreement and will be cut from the covenant. God needed a figurehead and a strong willed person to lead his chosen people of Israel. Abraham was a strong authoritative figure in his family and had the qualities of a leader and teacher of good character. Abraham set the tone in the household and never let his children take control of any situation that demanded his attention. God was seeking for a man who would embrace the responsibilities of what God willed and would be faithful to the end.
God told Abraham to take Isaac to the land of Moriah and to sacrifice him on a mountain. When Abraham and Isaac got there Abraham started to tie down Isaac and a moment before he went to sacrifice his son God sent him a lamb to sacrifice in Isaac’s place. When reading this the first time I just thought it was a story were God changed his mind at the last second. After reading it through the text of the ESV Bible I grew aware that God didn’t just change his mind but, instead was just testing Abrahams faith in him. This meaning and others started to pour out of the Bible as read it in the ESV
The first problem, “Is there a teleological suspension of the ethical?” begins by declaring that the ethical is the universe which applies to everyone. However, our purpose in the universe, is to act ethically. “As soon as the single individual wants to assert himself in his particularity, in direct opposition to the universe, he sins, and only by recognizing this can he again reconcile himself with the universe” (Kierkegaard, 1985, p. 83). I think that this statement makes sense because we cannot move forward in life unless we acknowledge the mistakes that we have made.
To start, McEntyre questions the motivation behind Abraham’s actions. She simply says, “He (Abraham) really meant to do it.” This idea lines up with the biblical account of the story. Nowhere in the biblical narrative do we find Abraham attempting to argue or question God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. Some say Abraham’s incredible faith in God allowed him to give up his son. Søren
To Kierkegaard, the whole biblical story is a paradox. “Thinking about Abraham is another matter, however; then I am shattered. I am constantly aware of the prodigious paradox that is the content of Abraham’s life, I am constantly repelled, and, despite all its passion, my thought cannot penetrate it, cannot get ahead by a hairsbreadth” (Fear and Trembling, 12). Faith to Kierkegaard is even paradoxical. “Precisely because resignation is antecedent, faith is no esthetic emotion but something far higher; it is not the spontaneous inclination of the heart but the paradox of existence” (Fear and Trembling, 19). Under the ethical, Abraham was going to commit murder. Kierkegaard uses an example of a preacher going to him after the murder and screaming, “You despicable man, you scum of society, what devil has so possessed you that you want to murder your son” (Fear and Trembling, 10). He knows that murder cannot be ethically disclosed and wonders how that can be faith. Under the absurdity of faith, Abraham’s crime of murder becomes a merited duty to his Creator. “The ethical expression for what Abraham did is that he meant to murder Isaac; the religious expression is that he meant to sacrifice Isaac” (Fear and Trembling, 11). Abraham had to suspend his duty to the universal, or the ethical in order to carry out his duty to God. The Christian must make an existential leap out of the universal to acquire faith. This ultimately means that faith is higher than the un...
Now focusing on some differences, the main point is that the first image shows a father protecting his son as if it were a natural instinct, however in the sacrifice of Isaac, his father is the one willing to kill him. An important factor to note is that Abraham loved his son very much, and he was willing to kill him out of the fear of God. In regards to the Angel shown in the second image, it quickly swoops down to stop Abhram from killing his son, the angel was sent by God after he understood that Abraham was willing to do anything
It appears that this opening speech by Abraham is designed to induce the audience to think ahead to God's demand, by offering them a view of Abraham's love for Isaac, and Isaac's fitness as a son. ...
... In conclusion, Abraham is shown to be justified; he is not a murderer. In Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard wrote that "the future will show I was right (Kierkegaard, 91). " Well, Abraham was proven right by the result. He does not kill Isaac.
In the Old Testament, Abraham and Moses were two very prominent leaders chosen by God to do his will. Throughout Genesis and Exodus, both men play important roles in fulfilling God’s will. They are put to many tests, given covenants, and communicate constantly with God. Although they have many similarities such as being leaders and men of God, there are also many differences between the two.
It is stated that of his early childhood “almost nothing is known”. The author still manages, however, to dig up an anecdote which portrays Abraham as a “generous child”. He was “large and strong for his age”, and when a “severe mysterious sickness” breaks out, Abraham pulls through, though many die around him.
God as an intangible entity is best understood through his interact with his creation. He gives society a glimpse into his nature through his relationships to his people and his wrath against his enemies. Taking a closer look into relationships he has had with people in the past, it’s clear that part of God’s character is to promise and deliver. God routinely entered into covenants with his people as the Torah shows us promises made then promises fulfilled. One such relationship that displayed this aspect of God’s character was God’s relationship to Joseph; son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Joseph came from a long line of “promised men.” The original covenant in this family line was made to Abraham for land and progeny. It was later seen that God fulfilled his covenant with Abraham through his two sons who were dispersed to possess lands outside of Abraham’s space. God continues in the fulfillment of covenant to Abraham through Ishmael and Isaac, and later through Isaac with the arrival of Jacob, then finally and most certainly fulfilled in Joseph’s generation as Jacob had twelve sons. God promised that Abraham’s line would become many nations; in fact the men of Joseph’s generation became the twelve tribes of Israel. But what makes Joseph’s story special were the unlikely circumstances that proceeded Joseph’s ascension to a position of authority in the world ruling Egyptian empire. In this essay I will discuss how the author of Joseph’s story portrays God as a being proving his power to Joseph and Joseph’s brothers.
Many people spend many years planning their whole life down to every detail, that they forget to ask or disband Gods plan for them. Woody Allen once stated, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.” The very same can be said for Isaac's son Jacob, who instead of listening to Gods plan, went out and made his own choices and ended up in a life of great turmoil. The events include the deceiving of his brother and father to gain both the blessing and the inheritance, his uncle deceiving him by working many years for the wrong bride, and his disagreement with God on what his next plans were. I believe this to be the most important testimony because we must always hear Gods plan, for he knows what's best for his children and must obey Him.