I didn't have much else to add about this past week's parasha after some of us girls had a good discussion on Saturday, but I came across this point in an article by Rabbi Joshue Heller on myjewishlearning.com. It was one of those finer details that easily get overlooked, and it seemed worth sharing:
I stand further in awe of the zeal and single-mindedness that Abraham brings to his assignment. Rather than prolonging good-byes, he does not delay--arising and setting out first thing in the morning, and attending to many details himself. When God summons Abraham to offer up his son, (Genesis 22:1) God calls his name once, and Abraham responds "hinneni"--here I am. In contrast, when God's messenger calls upon Abraham to stop, at the last moment, (22:11), it is with a twofold repetition, "Abraham, Abraham"--Abraham must be asked only once to raise the knife, but twice before he will stay it.
When we were growing up, my parents always said, "Delayed obedience is disobedience." It was annoying at the time, but it turns out they were just applying this biblical principle. But Abraham goes beyond even the quick obedience principle (even if God did have to specify which son).
Rabbi Heller's point seems to indicate that Abraham - even after telling Isaac that God would provide the lamb - isn't looking for a way out. When he committed to the obedience, he committed to the full act as he understood it. Just like Jesus on the cross (as Kristen contributed), he was choosing every step of the way to be faithful. I think sometimes I agree to what God asks, hoping in the back of my mind that my willingness will be enough and I won't really have to go through with it. But is that really obedience?
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this is such a great point. this last week it happened several times that i had to lay down my "issac" and then G-d gave it back to me. but now i find myself thinking, maybe i just can lay it down and he'll give it back. that doesn't seem like obedience either.
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