tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8215116066445385512.post3991370161418222489..comments2008-07-01T15:25:58.806-04:00Broadneck Baptist Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17576684109417307580noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8215116066445385512.post-10173855331107669142008-07-01T15:25:00.000-04:002008-07-01T15:25:00.000-04:00I'm with you, Kara, although Stephen puts forth a pretty good argument in citing some cultural sources (both during the Bible study and the sermon - which I'm uploading right now). In any case, it is much more complicated than I can really comprehend (so maybe it might not be complicated at all for that matter...)Jeremynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8215116066445385512.post-72780030356579908822008-06-28T22:08:00.000-04:002008-06-28T22:08:00.000-04:00I haven't really found an interpretation of the Abraham-Isaac story that appeases me yet. I am convinced that it has to be somehow connected to Jesus' sacrifice (father sacrificing son) so the idea of it being an end of human sacrifice makes some sense...<BR/><BR/>As for turning on your family, and bringing not peace, but a sword, I think you're right that the point is to put Jesus first. And be willing challenge or even loose other relationships - or just a feeling of peace - for the sake of whatever God is calling us to do.<BR/><BR/>And really, that's the most common interpretation I've heard of Abraham and Isaac - God was testing Abraham to see how much he was willing to give up - to see who he was putting first. <BR/><BR/>But I gotta say, I'm happy to put God first, but I hope that as a trade he'd never ask me to do something like that!karanoreply@blogger.com