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| Give Glory to Yahweh!
And what of the future? Perhaps there will be a time to reconsider Avraham’s testing, not in light of the demanding and critical aspect of the character of Yahweh, but rather his accommodating and conciliatory nature? Daniel the prophet earnestly petitioned that he himself would be tested, or proved, for ten days, to keep from defiling himself by eating Nevuchadhnetsar’s royal provision of food. When Daniel’s overseer Meltsar listened, and conformed to his request, giving simple natural food, and removing the royal food, it was not considered to be harsh or hostile treatment, but rather a blessing. No doubt, Daniel was grateful to be allowed to be tested in this way, to be able to show that the food sanctified by Yahweh the Elohim of Israel, even though in this case simple vegetarian fare, would enhance his health and appearance far more favorably than the best royal food of the Kingdom of Bavel (Babylon.) And of course, he would have been grateful for the good health and favor with Elohim that he enjoyed subsequently, throughout his long and fruitful life. Should we consider that Yahweh’s testing of Avraham was any less kindly and merciful of favor than Meltsar’s testing of Daniel? Could Avraham’s testing not also have reflected his petition to Yahweh, one to which we have not been made privy, or an unspoken desire or need? Let us be sure never to withhold from Yahweh the glory that he is due, for his many kindnesses and mercies that are always before us, and always be ready and willing to give him the benefit of doubt.
And what of those who would have us believe that to follow Yahweh wholly, we need to be prepared to abandon our grip on the hope of his faithful unchangeability, and the consistency of his lovingkindness, and his instruction in holiness, to plunge headlong into the desolations of blind unquestioning lockstep obedience to the whims of men, or of the ignorant and unlearned, or of those who have become arrogant in the wisdom that Yahweh in his mercy has graced them with, or those who would pass themselves to be even as elohim, having hocked the heritage of Yahweh for a mess of pottage, doctors who have lost interest in making whole the sick? And again, do they need to try to make Yahweh look fickle and capricious to make themselves look good? Does a simple, honest, reasonable, and faithful answer such as this study attempts to make not suit their purposes well? Do they consider rash and excessive hyperbole, prevarication, confusion, uncertainty, mere speculation, and doctrinal chaos on the subject of the “Akedah” more likely than truth to enhance their power over their unhappy disciples, and therefore preferable? Does it offend them, as preachers, to consider that the explanation of the “Akedah” is so simple that their disciples can understand it as well as, perhaps better than they? Would they rather see this study “swept under the carpet” for another 20 years? And will we fare better in the final judgment than they? What would we do without our Elohim Yahweh? And if we do our job and he does his, will all be well?
And in conclusion, let us re-affirm that obedience is better than sacrifice. For in blindly following the “Akedah” interpretations of the whole world, there is great danger. For to accept that Yahweh would command Avraham to violate Torah, or that Avraham would presume to annul it, we leave ourselves open to accepting that “sacrifice is as good as, perhaps better than obedience.” And that “what was sin yesterday may not be sin right now.” And we have seen enough of the outgoing of those beliefs. At this point, the student is proposing that throughout history, entire communities have been encouraged to rash and regrettable acts (most notably perhaps the Jewish mass suicides of the persecutions of the crusades) by the provocations enjoined by some of the traditional interpretations of Akedah. These acts, and these traditional interpretations, with their integral exultation of sacrifice over obedience, and situation ethics over the Torah of Yahweh, according to the student, are both derived from, and also result in the praise of men, at the expense of the glory to Yahweh. Hopefully the reader will agree, that although the Patriarch Avraham is rightly accorded honor among all nations, still, we are permitted, and justifiably so, yes, even required, to attribute even greater honor to Yahweh his Elohim; the holy, faithful, just, true, and our Only One. How good it is to offer ourselves to him a living sacrifice, walking humbly in his ways of truth.
כבוד ליהוה----- -----Glory to Yahweh
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