Genesis 22:1-14 June 29, 2014

Lamb Chops and Mint Jelly

What would you be willing to pay for an invention that could turn anything that you could imagine into reality? This device would take you to worlds beyond your imagination and place you in the middle of real adventure. But – not to worry – if you needed to take a break, you could shut down this device and it would be ready for you whenever you decided to come back and enter that alternative world again. Sounds great. It is great. It is the world of books.

A novel is a big investment of time. Because of that, I know that some persons will pick up a book and read the last few pages. If it has a happy ending, they’ll start reading it.

While I don’t subscribe to that school of thought, this morning I would like to look at one of the most disturbing stories in literature with a happy ending. It’s the story known in the Jewish faith as the Akedah or the binding of Isaac.

And here’s how it goes:Abraham had two sons from different mothers – Ishmael and Isaac – and loved them

both, although Ishmael and his mother Hagar were sent away to Egypt when Abraham’s wife Sarah became jealous. So when we begin today’s story, they have just this one boy Isaac, born to Sarah when she was 90 years old. From the heirs of Isaac, God would bless generations to come, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham.

Here’s the test: God tells Abraham to take his son to Mount Moriah for a burnt offering. And by “burnt offering”, God’s not talking about the burger that slips through the grates of the Weber grill. He is talking about an animal sacrifice made to God. And Isaac is to be the main course!

What comes next is shocking: Abraham says nothing back to God! He just gets up early the next morning to begin the three-day journey to Mt. Moriah. He takes two servants with him and wakes Isaac up: “Hey, do you feel like barbecue? I know this great place three days away.” “Don’t you want to wake up mom?” “Nah, this is going to be quality time for you and your old man.” Isaac reaches for an abacus. “Leave that at home, son. No handheld games this trip!”

When they get close to Mt. Moriah, Abraham tells the servants to wait with the donkey. “The boy and I are going over there to worship, and then we will come back to you.” Abraham has Isaac carry the bundle of firewood on this back; Abe carries the knife and the lighter.

As they get closer, Isaac says: “Pop, the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham looks at his son and says: “God will provide the lamb.” If this were a Looney Tune, here’s where the animator’s imagination would turn Isaac into a talking sheep.

Once they arrive to the place, Abraham builds an altar, lays out the firewood, sets up the grill and then has Isaac lie on top of the wood while he ties his hands and legs to the grill. This has got to be nothing less than terrifying for Isaac, unless his dad told him that they were just testing the strength of the grill. Abraham grabs the knife and is about ready to get to business when an angel of the Lord tells him to stop. “Now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Abraham looks and sees a ram with its horns caught in a thicket. He cuts Isaac loose (“Yep, that grill seems strong enough!”) and they start grilling the lamb chops. Abraham brings out the mint jelly and calls the servants to come over to chow down.

That evening Abraham decides to give that place a name. He calls it “The LORD will provide” – “Jehovah Jirah” in Hebrew.

That’s a happy ending for sure. Abraham’s faith in God is affirmed, Isaac is saved and God provides a lamb.

There are churches and pastors who no longer tell this story because it is so brutal. It is a story of child abuse and premeditated murder. Granted, the child sacrifice is never made, but you wouldn’t want to tell your kids this at bedtime.

But you can hold on to the happy ending that God will never ask us to sacrifice our children. God will provide us everything we need to grow closer to him in love.

Holding on to happy endings is the best way that I know to build upon the past and grow in faith.

Just about everyone that I know could tell you stories about times when their faith in God was tested. It might have happened when they had to deal with the sudden loss of a spouse or a partner. Faith may have been tested with the betrayal from a close friend. When children lose their lives due to ignorance, abuse, poverty or illness, it is a grief too hard to bear.

The first thing often set aside in times of deep darkness is God. How could God do this to me? But if you hold on to God at all times, especially in times of darkness, the Lord provides. Jehovah-Jirah. God will walk with you and see you through. Things will turn out okay.

People of faith understand that real love requires sacrifice. That’s what Jesus shows on the cross. This is love so committed to the world that it is willing to give everything to save us.

When our soldiers came home after World War II, while battlefield memories were bleak and often tragic, the world welcomed them as heroes and the country moved forward with hope and thanksgiving. Most of these vets didn’t want to talk about the war anymore. They left an example of sacrifice for freedom that was a happy ending that you could build upon.

I learned from my parents that people of faith sacrifice without thinking too much of it, holding on to the happy endings. My mom and dad had very little to raise our family of nine and send seven kids off to college. But they enjoyed life and lived each day to the fullest. Because they placed their children first, they gave me an example of faith and family that I could build upon.

Cancer survivors are a tough bunch. No one wants to have to face this illness, but thousands have and have made it through to being cancer free. The years of treatment are brutal and require much from a person. Some illnesses – like HIV/AIDS – are treatable but not yet curable. But through the lives of persons of faith, living through illness with the love of family, friends, and God, we are given a foundation that we can build upon and hold on to when we have to face cancer in the future.

You might say that sacrifice brings true meaning and purpose to life. When was the last time you sacrificed your life for others? Maybe it’s time to readjust your priorities beyond yourself.

Lamb chops and mint jelly for everyone! God provides the lamb for Abraham and through the love of Jesus Christ, the lamb for us.

If you insist on reading the end of the book to see if it turns out well, the Bible will give you this conclusion: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Everyone who hears this must also say, ‘Come!’ Come, whoever is thirsty; accept the water of life as a gift, whoever wants it. So be it. Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone.” Now, that’s what I call a happy ending!