Sacrifice Certainty

We read of Abraham’s final test: the command to sacrifice his son Isaac. God instructs Abraham to sacrifice his son. Without hesitation he marches off early in the morning, with Isaac, to do God’s bidding. He carries with him all the tools for this sacrifice. Abraham and Isaac journey for three days to Mount Moriah. One would think that during this journey he might have changed his mind. Perhaps Isaac would inspire uncertainty, and doubt, about what he is about to do.

Abraham was single minded in his devotion. Only at the last moment does God stay Abraham’s hand. “Do not raise your hand against the boy,” (Genesis 22) God calls. In Isaac’s place Abraham sacrifices a ram. On Rosh Hashanah we sound the shofar in remembrance of Abraham’s devotion. We remind God of what our ancestor was willing to do. Later generations built the Temple on Mount Moriah, on the very spot where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac.

I continue to ask, “Who would take a knife to their child? Who would sacrifice their son?” It is a harrowing story. We would rightfully dismiss a contemporary who attempted to do what Abraham did as crazy.

Franz Rosenzweig, the great twentieth century Jewish philosopher, responds to our questions. He bravely suggests Abraham misunderstood God.

Many people think they know what God wants. And plenty of people continue to do crazy, horrific and murderous things in their religion’s name. Rosenzweig also remarked that the only thing we can be certain of when it comes to God’s commands is the first word of the Sinai revelation, “Anochi—I.” Everything after that word in the opening phrase of, “I am the Lord your God.” is interpretation.

All we can know for sure is that God exists. Discerning what God wants of us, however, is a lifelong pursuit. We continue to interpret. We continue to struggle.

Too often people allow their certainty to blind them and impel them to make harrowing decisions. People continue to commit atrocities in God’s name. Far too many people shout, “I know what God wants. I know what these words mean. I am certain of God’s truth.”

And we continue to hold on to these certainties as if they are the greatest sources of meaning. We crowd out all other opinions with our overzealousness. We silence differing opinions.

Perhaps this is the only thing we should sacrifice.

Our certainty.

And perhaps this is why God stays Abraham’s hand. God wishes to restrain certainty.