THE 1310 Lecture 8

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The Tower of Babel

Sin continues after the re-creation with Noah
humanity still steeped in pride; grasping at God's holiness to satisfy the innate desire for divinity
- replication of the original sin: to be like God ("no new sins; just re-manifestations of the original sin")
Tower is finished, city still under construction.
- "God comes down" to see tower: it's too short!
- thwarts advancement of sin by confusing language (can be seen as merciful just like when God prevents Adam from reaching out to Tree of Life)

Abram becomes the mediator of the covenant between God and his family.

God will make his name great
- contrast with Tower of Babel: "we will make a name for ourselves"
- (Later) God gives him a new name: Abraham
God will give him the land for his descendants
God will make of Abraham a great nation
God will multiply his descendants "as numerous as the stars in heaven or sands on the seashore"
- Sarai is barren, Isaac's birth will be miraculous
God will bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him
All families will find blessing in him
(Later) Sign: circumcision

Abram's response is to build an altar

response to God is always liturgical
he "put his faith in the Lord, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness."

Sarai is barren, so she gets an idea: requests that Abram hook up with Hagar
Sarai becomes jealous when it works and then blames Abram for it
Ishmael born as a result
Sarai abuses Hagar so much that she wants to leave
- She runs away, but God calls her back promising her many descendants through Ishmael.

Adam and all males in household are to be circumcised
- "incarnational" — in the flesh
- on the organ responsible for making descendants.
Name change: Abram/Sarai to Abraham/Sarah
God clarifies the child will be between Abraham and Sarah
- Only God can make this happen since Sarah is barren, and both are too old now anyway
- Abraham and Sarah are forced to rely on God's power

Sarah is jealous (again)
- Ishmael is older
- Once again, God has preference for younger son (when will they get the idea?)
Hagar and Ishmael are sent away
- God says it's okay this time
- Only Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac are left now

God: "take Isaac… your son… your only son… whom you love… and offer him as a sacrifice to me"
- Wow, God, you really seem to be rubbing it in!
No words from Abraham; he just does it
- Doesn't even say that he told anyone; even Isaac doesn't know
Leaves servants: "We will worship and come back to you"
- English is ambiguous, but did Abraham think that they both will come back?
- Maybe Abraham thinks that God will either prevent the sacrifice or raise Isaac from the dead → First believer in the Resurrection?
Isaac willingly carries the wood and is bound (prefigurement/type for Christ)
- Isaac asks about the sheep for the sacrifice
- "God will provide" — becomes the name for the place
at last second: angel calls out, "STOP!"
This event would leave a great imprint on the memory of Abraham and all of his descendants (all of the Jewish people)