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From: toddv@tekmdp.UUCP (Todd Vierheller)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Playing games with God, II
Message-ID: <2111@tekmdp.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Aug-83 11:14:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekmdp.2111
Posted: Wed Aug  3 11:14:33 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Aug-83 17:16:21 EDT
References: unc.5646
Lines: 27

I am compelled to make mention of some things which are not inherently obvious.

1)  Abraham wasn't counting on God to stop his sacrfice of Isaac.  Rather,
    he was counting on the faithfulness of God to keep His promises.  Abraham
    was confident that God would raise Isaac from the dead.  After all, God
    had promised that this son would be the father of many.  Before you flame
    all over me for my inductive leaps, etc., see Hebrews 11:17ff.

2)  Jephthah's daughter was not sacrificed as a burnt offering to God.  Although
    an honest reading of the text might lead to this conclusion.  (I don't have
    a Bible with me so I'll have to rely on the accuracy of Bruce Smith's
    quotes.)  Notice the phrase "whatever comes out of my house . . . surely
    it shall belong to the Lord, or I will offer it up for a burnt offering."
    Did you catch the "or"?  Jephthah didn't use his daughter for a burnt 
    offering, but he did give her to God (presumably for some service).  She
    didn't go to the mountains for two months to weep for her virginity because
    she was going to die; she rather wept over her virginity because she was
    destined to stay that way (not a pleasant thought for most of us).
    You can feel free to flame about this one if you like.

             Send flames to the net or direct to:
	      
	     Todd Vierheller (Aloha Oregon)

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