The Journey of Abraham into the 21st Century

1 To Abraham and Sarah the call of God was clear,

'Go forth and I will show you a country rich and fair.

You need not fear the journey for I have pledged my word,

that you shall be my people and I will be your God.'

2 From Abraham and Sarah arose a pilgrim race,

dependent for their journey on God's abundant grace;

and in their heart was written by God this saving word:

'that you shall be my people and I will be your God.'

3 We of this generation on whom God's hand is laid,

can journey to the future secure and unafraid,

rejoicing in God's goodness and trusting in this word:

'that you shall be my people and I will be your God.'

                                       Voices United 634

 I see that the Common Lectionary, or schedule of Sunday scripture readings, offers us passages from Genesis and the story of Abraham. In fact the next four weeks tell us a bunch of gripping tales about a bunch of important characters. Abram and Sarai are called by God this week and are renamed Abraham and Sarah. Then this ancient pair are informed by angels or travelers or God that they will have a son, against all odds. The following week we're introduced to Hagar and Ishmael, revered figures in Islam. We'll then move on to the disturbing near-sacrifice of beloved son Isaac by father Abraham with the promise of a new covenant. 

These stories are key to Judaism and Islam and Christianity and in some respects bind these three monotheistic religions together and push them apart. Years ago Bruce Feiler wrote an insightful book exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly of these connections. 

One of the few positive developments in the first Trump administration are what are known as the Abraham Accords of 2020. They offered a glimmer of hope for peace in the Middle East, or at least a de-escalation of mistrust and possible violence. All that changed with the attacks by Hamas on Israel in 2023, followed by the horrendous campaign of retribution in Gaza. Then Trump blew up the stability of the region with the ongoing war with Iran, and Israel invaded Lebanon.  

In the on-again, off-again ceasefire Trump has repeatedly claimed that a peace deal with Iraq is at hand but has baffled many with his insistence that a condition will be a number of nations signing on to the Accords:

I am mandatorily requesting that all Countries immediately sign the Abraham Accords, and that, if Iran signs its Agreement with me, as President of the United States of America, it would be an Honor to have them also be part of this unparalleled World Coalition,

Is "mandatorily requesting" akin to "volun-told"? Who knows. This unexpected insistence hasn't played well with several nations. 

It is interesting that thousands of years after this saga of Abraham and Sarah and others unfolded there is still at least symbolic heft, even though a certain leader probably couldn't find in the bible if his life depended on it. 

May the blessing of the God of Sarah and Hagar,

as of Abraham,

the blessing of the Son, born of the woman Mary,

and the blessing of the Spirit, who broods over us

as a mother her children,

be with you all. Amen.

                      Voices United 428