Fallout of the Mountaintop Experience

The effect of Abraham's trial with Isaac had devastating effects on his family. Right as he's coming off the Mount Moriah, Scripture tells us that "Abraham returned to his men and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt in Beersheba (Gen 22:19)." What about Sarah? What about Isaac? It is assumed they were with him, but would that be a correct assumption?

Genesis 23:2 "So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron)..." Well, Abraham was a nomad. This might not be unusual for someone who moves around a lot. But we read on "...and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her." Came from where? When he addresses the Sons of Heth, Abraham says "I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property...so I may bury my dead (23:4)." Abraham did not know the native Hittites and was not familiar with them. What had happened between Abraham and Sarah that was so traumatic to the relationship that they separated?

Isaac did not fare any better in his life. He is the least spiritual of all the patriarchs and though he receives God's blessing, his spiritual story is incredibly short. The faithfulness of Abraham's servant finding Isaac's wife is longer than the description of Isaac's entire adult life. God appears to him twice. The first time he obeys God (26:6). The second time he builds an altar (26:25). Other than that, Isaac is the bridegroom for Rebeka in the story of Abraham's faithful servant; he digs wells and gets into quarrels, but runs away whenever there is a conflict; at the end of his life, Isaac is the mark to his crafty son, Jacob. As far as patriarchs go, Isaac is a wash.

There is a commonly held belief that we view God through the filter of our father. A kind, understanding father or a fair but demanding father or a harsh and punitive father or even an absent father can establish our foundational beliefs about the Heavenly Father. What do you learn about God when your father ties you up and is about to stab you in the heart? Does it help when Abraham says he's doing this because God told him to? Was it reassuring when Abraham said "I'm glad I didn't have to kill you back there."? What about when Mom and Dad are arguing about the whole ordeal and Abraham justifies the act by saying "but I knew that God would have raised him from the dead!"? Did Isaac ever sleep well again in his father's company? Did he ever turn his back on his father? Was he always looking at what might be in Abraham's hand? How old was Isaac when he finally worked through the experience enough to build an altar himself?

Abraham, with his obedience, destroyed his family in deep, fundamental ways. His wife couldn't bear to be in the same town with him. He ruined his son's relationship with the God he followed so blindly.