The scriptures read are Genesis 22-24, Psalm 8 and Matthew 8.
Genesis 22. Here we get the pivotal story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Why did Abraham obey God? Because sacrificing children to the gods of the Canaanites and the Philistines was a common practice. Abraham, though dismayed, probably thought his God was like the others, wanting children. But, just as Abraham predicted, God provides. He not only stops the child sacrifice, he gives a ram in its place. God provides the sacrifice. A spoiler, perhaps?
Genesis 23. This small story of Abraham buying a burial plot for Sarah is touching. It's also informative about how this was done in the 2000s B.C. The haggling is subtle. This story goes way back to the oral tradition no doubt.
Genesis 24. Another interesting look at the culture back then. Abraham makes his servant swear with his hand under his, uh, thigh, thereby giving us an illustration of where words like "testimony" came from. The servant goes to the well because that's where you met everyone. Rebekah is thoughtful and kind and the servant retells the whole story, so we read it twice during this one chapter.
Psalm 8. A great psalm of how God has made us little lower than gods ourselves, though by right we should be beneath his notice. A wonderful meditation on God's grace to us.
Matthew 8. Jesus heals the sick, even at a distance. He lays hands on a leper and demands people drop everything to follow him. He calms the storm at sea and casts evil demons into pigs. The people of the nearby town are so ticked off at this they make him leave the area. They apparently prefer having demon-possessed people running around than to lose some pigs (and the money they represent).
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