Pat - I don't think Yahweh is _ever_ displeased with Abraham. Abraham's
laugh is not a problem, either for Yahweh or for most biblical critics.
Abraham laughed "out loud," but Sarah laughed "within herself."
Nonetheless, Sarah's laugh, not Abraham's, is censured by Yahweh (and
there is an amazing amount of biblical criticism about her laugh that is
appallingly sexist.)
Look at how Abraham tries to talk Yahweh out of demolishing Sodom and
Gomorrah--he is pretty cheeky! And Yahweh doesn't seem to mind in the
least.
Yahweh does seem unsure of Abraham, reminding him of their covenant
frequently, and telling him to "walk in his ways." But I don't see any
displeasure on Yahweh's part in these stories.
About Isaac - he is Abraham's "proper" heir; he _inherits_ the blessing
given to Abraham. It isn't a matter of God's taking it away from
Abraham to give to Isaac instead; it belongs to both of them, and to
their heirs. Yahweh _is_ taking it away from the rightful heir, Ishmael
(the first-born [in this case Ishmael] is legally the rightful heir,
although in the Bible younger brothers often seem to get the blessing
instead (e.g. Jacob instead of Esau), but Yahweh says Ishmael will
prosper "because he is Abraham's seed."
I have been studying the Sarah-Hagar-Abraham-Ishmael-Isaac stories for 3
years now - it is my dissertation topic. And it's a pleasure to find
someone who wants to talk about them!
Nina Rulon-Miller
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> In a message dated 97-10-19 15:47:28 EDT, you write:
>
> >Isn't God's promise to Abraham that his progeny would be as numerous as
> >the stars (Gen. 15:5 & 22:17) a covenant?
>
> >tom izbicki
> >
> > Pat - why do you say God did not make a covenant with Abraham? He did,
> > and reiterated it at least once. I can give you chapter and verse if
> > you like. Isaac was the chosen heir (rather than Ishmael) but it all
> > starts with Abraham.
> >
> > Nina Rulon-Miller
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> Tom and Nina,
>
> This is how I was reading the passages. First, God offers a covenant to
> Abraham and his seed (Gen 17.7). Then he says Sarah will bear a child. At
> that point, Abraham laughs so hard he falls his face on the ground. (a bit
> disrespectful, y'know).
>
> God then changes his mind, and restates the form of the covenant (17.19). It
> will now be with Isaac and his seed. I'm assuming the implication is that
> God is displeased with Abraham's laughter. He punishes Abraham by withdrawing
> the original offer and replacing it with a new offer to make the covenant
> with Isaac. This has the effect of closing out Ishmael, the son Abraham had
> asked about.
>
> Now that you mention it, I don't know if other people read the passage in
> this way, and it's only the way I read it. I do think we have to assume the
> original offer was modified or withdrawn. Throughout the Bible it's assumed
> that the Ishmaelites (descendants of Ishamael) are not part of the Hebrew
> community, or are not the people of the covenant. This wouldn't be the case
> if the original offer had been carried out, which had included both sons.
>
> I guess my paradigm is contract negotiation, where either side is free to
> modify their offer at any time before the contract is formalized and signed.
>
> Help! Where is Ulrich? I think he knows far more about the Bible than I do.
> And at this point I'm curious to know myself if there's any literature on
> this passage. You both were reading it differently, and the issue of small
> details comes up again. Should we just take note that Abraham laughs? Or
> does this open the question of whether God is responsive to this
> (disrespectful?) laughter in any way? I thought God responded (or showed his
> displeasure) by coming up with a new offer that was not quite as good as the
> old one...but which seems to be the promise actually carried out.
>
> pat sloane
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