Likewise, I think the God of Abraham as described in the Old Testament, appeals to baser human attributes as well. In reading the Old Testament, the God of Abraham comes across to me as a demented tyrant who stomps about the earth in bloody murderous tantrums if he is not properly genuflected to.
If such attributes were applied to a human being, people would immediately recognize them as horrific, brutal, and tyranical. And yet when applied to something the call a God, they fall to their feet in worship.
I'll never understand it.
Just wondering what gives one the notion that something is horrific or brutal. Why might that person suggest, say.. raping a child is wrong. Is it just wrong because society says its wrong, is it wrong because an individual thinks its wrong, or is there a moral absolute. If rape is indeed absolutely wrong, who says? Who wrote the moral law shall we say?
Let me take a stab at this one, no pun intended:
What kind of general would send his men to battle, knowing full well that many of them might die?
Hopefully, one who had a broader perspective and could see the sacrifice as a means to accomplish some greater good.
Perhaps this is what God had in mind with Abraham and Isaac. But, what "greater good" could possibly be accomplished by Abraham nearly sacrificing his beloved son?
Maybe God was trying to remind Abraham (and everyone who reads the story in the Bible) of His love for mankind, "for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son...(John 3:16). However, in God's case, the sacrifice was ultimate. There was no substitute ram in the thicket.
So, OWK, you unknowingly answered your own question: ..to prove that He (God) loved him (Abraham, and by extension all of us)
How many times have you read it? You certainly get a different picture of G-d than I do from it. Maybe you're seeing what you're looking for in there?
Shalom.
Every time I have read through the Bible, these types of stories always stand out to me. I don't understand it either.
It's like in Wal-Mart; the father who is constantly dogin' his child - waiting for her/him to step out of line then BAM!, down comes the hammer.
I think, "What a troubled, miserable human being. God help that child."
So, while questioning the actions attributed to God, I hope for his influence to help the child.
Kind of hypocritical on my part.
Perhaps the God of Abraham - as depicted in the OT, is not an accurate portrayal of the God of Humanity?