Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth…
Genesis 22:1-18
What struck me when I read this passage this time was the way that the writer keeps stressing that Isaac was Abraham’s son, his only son. What happened to Ishmael? I know he and Hagar got sent away, but damn, he still exists. Maybe this is where some religions get their strict idea of banishment. Once someone is sent away, it is as if they no longer exist. I mean, check it out, three times Isaac is referred to as “your son, your only son.” And once he is referred to as the son “whom you love.” I mean God promised to make Ishmael into a great nation, too. Right? Why the stress on Isaac’s only son status?
I guess I wasn’t entirely clear on what I was trying to say about this passage. I was thinking as I was writing this that there are always more ways to understand a passage of scripture than first appear to meet the eye. I wanted anyone who read this post to contemplate the other view point. What happened to Ishmael? Isaac isn’t Abraham’s only son. There is also Ishmael. If you read this post, please also read the comments that were added by an anonymous person, who I assume to be Islamic, for another viewpoint about this moment in history.
Exodus 14:15-15:1
I am so ungrateful. Perhaps, saying I am always skeptical is better. I always wonder how this happened. How did the sea part? Is it a metaphor? If the sea was wide and deep enough for the Egyptians to drown in it, how could the Israelites see their dead bodies on the shore. Did they float across to the side the Israelites were one? I am not knocking the power and grace of God, but I wonder how. How? I’m voting for metaphors.
Isaiah 54:5-14
“…the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer…”
Isaiah 55:1-11
“Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
“…my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Ezekiel 36:16-28
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to follow my laws.”
Romans 6:3-11
Wow, Paul. I have nothing intelligent to say about this passage because I am confused. It seems important and heavy, but don’t want to venture a guess as to what it is about without studying it in depth. I am pretty sure that Paul is simply saying that by having faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, we, too, benefit from it. We are dead to sin, and alive to life. Jesus died without sinning and therefore conquered sin, so we can live in grace knowing that Jesus already conquered sin and death. I think.
Matthew 28:1-10
The women clasped his feet. I love that so many times the women in the gospels are so into Jesus they fall at his feet. These women had no ordinary story. They were the bearers of the gospel. They were the first to know the Easter story. They had a mission to go and tell the others. The angel of the Lord spoke to them: “Now I have told you.” Yet, they recognized the source of the story and stopped to worship him.How many times have I been so moved by Jesus’ presence that I fall at his feet? Would I fall if I met him face to face? If I looked at every person I come in contact as a person in God’s image, as Jesus’ earthly body, would I be moved to fall? Would I find myself prostrate before the King? Before you? Before a homeless man? Before a prostitute? How do I view people in light of my relationship with Jesus? Do I see people as Jesus’ image? Do I recognize the presence of the divine in my fellow humans? How many times do I find myself so excited about the story that I have to tell, that I lose sight of the origin of the story? Do I even get excited about my story? Would I clasp Jesus’ feet? Would I fall to worship him? What if I would? What would it do to my faith if I paused and fell face down and clasped Jesus’ feet? What would it do to me?
Reason Breeds Insanity 