And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Abraham rose up from beside his dead, and said to the Hittites, ‘I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a…
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After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt-offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.’ Genesis 22:1-19,…
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The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, ‘Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son…
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The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ Genesis 18:1-15, NRSV Although Abraham has been repeatedly promised and reassured by…
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When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. God said to Abraham, ‘As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. Genesis 17:1,9-10,15-22, NRSV In today’s reading we return to the story of…
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The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me;he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. Isaiah 49:1-6, NRSV These words from one of the “Songs of the Suffering…
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He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:1-12,17-18, NRSV Although God had previously promised Abram that from him would come a…
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Even if for the present I would avoid the punishment of mortals, yet whether I live or die I will not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by bravely giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age and leave to the young a noble example of how to…
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Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and…
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Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:‘Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb? Job 38:1,8-11, NRSV Much of the book of Job consists of his lament over the sufferings and hardship that he both witnessed and directly experienced. Job had much to lament since he had lost…
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