The Binding of Isaac, the Binding of our Hearts: A Central Story
Posted July 8th, 2011
This Old Testament lesson contains one of the most central stories to Judaism and, indeed, Christianity. Referred in Jewish circles by its Hebrew description – the akedah, or binding – this story of Abraham being called by God to sacrifice his only biological son, Isaac, is a deeply troubling, deeply disconcerting, and deeply central story to the experience of the People of God.
It is often said that ‘God doesn’t give you more than you can’t handle’. I appreciate that idea and perhaps that is true, but it is not always obvious nor is it always backed up by scriptural evidence. Sometimes, in life, things are tragic. Sometimes, things don’t make sense. Sometimes, the bad seems to outweigh the good. Sometimes, life hands you a bunch of lemons and you don’t have one ounce of energy or hope to even think about lemonade.
Download this sermon
