Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (NRSV)
Abraham truly was the father of many nations. Sarah was a mother of nations as well, although she is not recognized across as many religions. This past summer I witnessed the true diversity of Abraham’s nations.
I spent the summer in Bethlehem, Palestine, along with seven other Goshen College students, with the family of a college friend, learning about the conflict and culture there. We were fortunate to be able to spend a day in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was such a juxtaposition of Christian, Jewish and Muslim culture. I, as a Christian, visited the Western Wall of the Jewish Temple, the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosques, and it was one of the holiest experiences of my life.
The Western Wall of the Temple was not the temple of my peoples’ history, but it was a holy place of prayer and mourning of what was lost. Al-Aqsa Mosque is not the mosque where the prophet of my peoples’ history was transported by angels, but it was a beautiful and peaceful place of reflection. I am a part of the peoples, these histories, even though I am Christian. I can learn about my own faith by thinking about issues that other religions raise. These nations are not as different as we might think. We can still see the holiness of the others’ sacred ground.
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 (NRSV)
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. 2And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.” 3Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,
4“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
15God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”