How Things Work: A Brief History of Reality
BOOK II: The Power of Three (Science & Religion) – Consideration #86. "The Patriarch Abraham" (Part One)
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Tuesday June 6, 2023
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations… I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come…”
― Genesis 17: 4-7
PREFACE
Welcome Everybody!
You may think that you have no connection to an ancient Jewish patriarch named Abraham. However, you would be mistaken. Not only did Judaism have a major influence in “ancient” history, but modern history as well. World War II, the Holocaust, the establishment of the modern Jewish state of Israel, and even 9/11 are all direct influences in our current reality. Not to mention Albert Einstein and Karl Marx. But that is just the beginning. Abraham is also considered to be the patriarch of Islam and Christianity.
“…many of the problematic issues related to the Middle East today stem from this original ‘sibling rivalry’…”
Abraham had two sons. His “first born son” Ishmael, represents the connection to Islam. His second son, Isaac, represents the connection to Judaism and Christianity. To a great extent, many of the problematic issues related to the Middle East today stem from this original “sibling rivalry” between Isaac and Ishmael over who is the “rightful heir” to Abraham. With the return of the “Jewish Nation” of Israel to Palestine after World War II these tensions increased.
The United States was the first Nation to officially recognize Israel after World War II; thereby increasing its tension with these nations as well. Those tensions, along with other political, social, and religious factors, were all part of a causal chain leading to an empirical manifestation we call “9/11.” This event has literally altered the course of modern history. However, there is more.
“As the ‘spiritual sons of Abraham,’ Christians become ‘part of the Jewish family’ through Jesus…”
Abraham is also considered the “spiritual patriarch” of Christianity. This connection is clearly established in the New Testament. As the “spiritual sons of Abraham,” Christians become “part of the Jewish family” through Jesus, a Jewish prophet, or Messiah. Therefore, the “Holy Wars” were essentially between the physical, or spiritual, descendants of Isaac and Ishmael over who is the rightful heir to Abraham’s “covenant” with God. Basically, the squabble between Jews, Christians, and Muslims has been a “family feud” that has lasted over 2,000 years.
One main contention is who should get the “house.” Jerusalem is the spiritual home of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The “Holy Wars” represent the most extensive battles over this ancient homeland. Jerusalem is a city shared, and claimed, by all three religions. The Jews claim the city as theirs, historically, having built the first and second Temples there. Christians hold the city sacred because Jesus taught and was crucified there. Islam claims Jerusalem because the “final” prophet, Muhammed, “ascended to heaven” from there.
“This makes Abraham a very consequential figure in human history…”
So, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all consider themselves to be either genetically, or spiritually, the “sons of Abraham,” and therefore, also directly connected to his “original covenant” with God and the “Holy City” of Jerusalem. This makes Abraham a very consequential figure in human history who continues to impact our reality in ways we seldom consciously consider.
CONSIDERATION #86. – The Patriarch Abraham (Part One)
God and Abraham (Genesis 15:1-21)
Abraham’s first meeting with God has enormous theological implications in not only the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. God comes to Abraham in “a vision” as “the word,” which is later connected by the Apostle John to Jesus in a complex theological concept called “the Logos.” It also establishes that God “reveals” Himself in “non-direct” manifestations such as “visions,” “dreams,” or a “voice.” Although God interacts with human beings in the Old Testament it is always through some kind of “indirect” manifestation. Even in the Old Testament, human beings never interact directly with the “unabridged absolute completeness” of God.
“…the word of the Lord” came to Abraham in a vision saying, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
– Genesis 15
If you have read the Bible, you know that Abraham (or Abram), although respectful toward God, is not afraid to “deal,” or “bargain,” with God. Abraham’s response when first encountering God is somewhat surprising, in that he questions what kind of reward God can give him, since God has given him no children…
“O Lord God, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless… You have given me no children…”
– Genesis 15:2-3
This is the consequential “chip” in the bargain between God and Abraham. Abraham’s concern is not with himself, but with the future. Without children “Abraham” has no future in the empirical world. Therefore, the “covenant” between God and Abraham is about the future, and Abraham’s descendants. God answers by promising Abraham more descendants than he can count:
“Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them… So shall your descendants be.”
– Genesis 15:5
Abraham believes, and trusts God. So, the basic deal was that if Abraham and his descendants accepted and followed “the Lord” as their One and only God, He would make Abraham the father of many nations. The first great nation would be Israel. As part of the covenant, God would provide the land for this new nation.
“The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
– Genesis 17:8
However, God later added a slight caveat to the deal.
As the sun went down and Abraham fell into a dark sleep, God returned to add something to the agreement. Although He reassures Abraham of His promise, He also mentions there may be a few difficulties along the way. Difficulties along the way becomes a hallmark of the God of Israel:
“Know of a surety that your descendants will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years; but I will bring judgment on the nation which they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions… And they shall come back here in the fourth generation…”
– Genesis 15:12-16
However, God also promises a nice long life for Abraham as part of the deal, reminding him of the enormous blessings his offspring will eventually inherit from the agreement.
“As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age… To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphra′tes, the land of the Ken′ites, Ken′izzites, Kad′monites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
– Genesis 15:15-20
The deal was struck; sacrifices were made, and Abraham accepted the Lord as the One True God. The rest is Biblical history. However, this is just the narrative, the theological implications of the story go much deeper.
POSTSCRIPT
The history and tradition of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all begin with Abraham. God makes a covenant with Abraham that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all lay claim to. The basis of that contract was that Abraham would have more descendants than he could count. There are currently more than 14 million Jews, 1.9 billion Muslims, and over 2.2 billion Christians in the world today. Not a bad deal for Abraham.
There are also numerous other traditions and religions claiming to be related to Abraham through a connection to the “lost” tribe of Israel including Mormons, Rastafarians, multiple African “Jewish” tribes, and others.
Next week we consider some of the theological implications of Abraham’s covenant with God…
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