Read on Twitter
This thread. Read it. Understand it.
It’s why I believe that Abraham failed the Akeidah. Here’s my view:
A bit earlier, God tells Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. Abraham argues and bargains and gets God to agree to save them if there are 10 good people
1/ https://twitter.com/justsayxtian/status/1275103223951446016
It’s why I believe that Abraham failed the Akeidah. Here’s my view:
A bit earlier, God tells Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. Abraham argues and bargains and gets God to agree to save them if there are 10 good people
1/ https://twitter.com/justsayxtian/status/1275103223951446016
Fast forward a few chapters and God wants to test Abraham. See, the thing many modern people don’t realize is that child sacrifice was rather common in the region
In and north of ancient Canaan, sacrificing a child was how to ensure fertility.
2/
In and north of ancient Canaan, sacrificing a child was how to ensure fertility.
2/
Abraham definitely would have known this. So imo God says to Godself,
“Sure, Abraham will fight me about Sodom and Gomorrah, but what about his own kid?”
3/
“Sure, Abraham will fight me about Sodom and Gomorrah, but what about his own kid?”
3/
God says to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, the one you love, Isaac”
Subtext here is obvious. “Hey Abe! You’re supposed to love this kid!”
Abraham misses the point.
4/
Subtext here is obvious. “Hey Abe! You’re supposed to love this kid!”
Abraham misses the point.
4/
Instead of arguing or fighting, he wakes up the next day and just goes. (Yes, I know that midrash says he pushed back a bit, but that’s not how my midrash goes).
I can just imagine God saying, “C’mon dude. Don’t do it.”
Because Judaism was supposed to be different
5/
I can just imagine God saying, “C’mon dude. Don’t do it.”
Because Judaism was supposed to be different
5/
Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, I can envision God saying, “Ah crap. He’s really going to do it. Get down there Gabriel and stop this thing.”
See, this is why I think he failed. After sending Abraham to the mountain, God never talks to him again.
6/
See, this is why I think he failed. After sending Abraham to the mountain, God never talks to him again.
6/
God doesn’t talk to him again, and Abraham’s role in the story is basically done. All he does after this point is bury his wife and find a wife for his son.
That’s the price of his failure.
7/
That’s the price of his failure.
7/
I believe we are supposed to argue with God because it shows that we are paying attention.
I don’t like the idea of blind faith. We were given brains and ideas and free will. We should be using those things.
8/
I don’t like the idea of blind faith. We were given brains and ideas and free will. We should be using those things.
8/
I believe that Judaism is about struggling and questioning. We still will fulfill the commandments, but we should discuss them and debate them.
To me, faith is doing this. Faith is arguing and debating while still trying to do the right thing.
9/
To me, faith is doing this. Faith is arguing and debating while still trying to do the right thing.
9/
Pirkei Avot 5 talks about arguments for the sake of heaven vs those not for the sake of heaven.
The good kind will be remembered positively. The bad kind will swallow you up with no trace.
10/
The good kind will be remembered positively. The bad kind will swallow you up with no trace.
10/
To me, it’s the arguments for the sake of heaven that are the definition of my faith.
11/11
11/11
