The Hebrew word nasah means to test in order to reveal character. Explore Genesis 22, the Akedah, and what Scripture actually means when it says God tests us.
This lesson really blessed me, it is just the reminder that I needed as i experience a personal time of testing. May I stay focus on the God who has always been faithful, always provided and always made a way when there seems to be no way. May I trust Him in the midst of circumstances that are squeezing me hard. May the testing reveal a heart that Trust God!
Honestly this is how I've always understood this story. Abraham has already gone through decades of learning to trust that God delights in keeping his promises. Whether he believed that God would resurrect Isaac or if he thought something else, the reality is that he knew God would keep His promise to provide descendents through Isaac. Everything about this story screams faithfulness born of deep trust.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, the word used in the Greek Septuagint results in a basically identical reading of this passage.
The Greek uses the verb epeirasen (from peirazō, which is derived from the root peirō), which literally means "to pierce through." And the usage here is identical to how it was used a metallurgical sense, in that it speaks of a "piercing through" Abraham's outer actions to reveal the depth of his devotion.
Whereas I became so fascinated by the Septuagint when I first discovered it that I've made it my main research focus. I love comparing the Septuagint's differences to traditional Hebrew-based readings. Especially once I realized that in almost all cases those differences are complementary rather than contradictory.
Yeah Hebrew kind of takes up a lot of my time but I would love to study more of the Greek. One of my professors (and friend) is fluent in both and I honestly don't know how she does it.
Question #3. I used to perceive Abraham's statement as a "bold-faced lie" in order to convince Sarah to concede to the journey. Looking through a different set of glasses, his statement reveals the opposite. Abraham trusted G-d to preserve the heir who would cause him to become the father of many nations. This was an informative teaching.
This lesson really blessed me, it is just the reminder that I needed as i experience a personal time of testing. May I stay focus on the God who has always been faithful, always provided and always made a way when there seems to be no way. May I trust Him in the midst of circumstances that are squeezing me hard. May the testing reveal a heart that Trust God!
Amen!!
Good point!
Thank you!!
Honestly this is how I've always understood this story. Abraham has already gone through decades of learning to trust that God delights in keeping his promises. Whether he believed that God would resurrect Isaac or if he thought something else, the reality is that he knew God would keep His promise to provide descendents through Isaac. Everything about this story screams faithfulness born of deep trust.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, the word used in the Greek Septuagint results in a basically identical reading of this passage.
The Greek uses the verb epeirasen (from peirazō, which is derived from the root peirō), which literally means "to pierce through." And the usage here is identical to how it was used a metallurgical sense, in that it speaks of a "piercing through" Abraham's outer actions to reveal the depth of his devotion.
Oh I love that!! I will have to look at it in the Septuagint (I admit I have a copy but don't really get much chance to look at it).
Completely understandable.
I would think that Hebrew would be your focus.
Whereas I became so fascinated by the Septuagint when I first discovered it that I've made it my main research focus. I love comparing the Septuagint's differences to traditional Hebrew-based readings. Especially once I realized that in almost all cases those differences are complementary rather than contradictory.
Yeah Hebrew kind of takes up a lot of my time but I would love to study more of the Greek. One of my professors (and friend) is fluent in both and I honestly don't know how she does it.
Wow, that's incredible! I can't even imagine having the mental bandwidth for that.
Question #3. I used to perceive Abraham's statement as a "bold-faced lie" in order to convince Sarah to concede to the journey. Looking through a different set of glasses, his statement reveals the opposite. Abraham trusted G-d to preserve the heir who would cause him to become the father of many nations. This was an informative teaching.