Читать книгу Had Eve Come First and Jonah Been a Woman - Nancy Werking Poling - Страница 10

Genesis 22

“Take your son, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering,” God tells Abraham. Abraham follows God’s instructions until, at the last minute, an angel intervenes, telling Abraham not to lay his hand upon the boy.

Seeing Isaac as female reminds us of young girls who are victims of violence and abuse.

It is late at night, but I lie with my eyes wide open, too excited to sleep. As soon as day breaks I get to go with Father up to the mountains. To make a sacrifice. It is a long trip, he says, it will take several days. I’ve been such a good girl that I get to go with him. Mother will pack food for us to take along and two servants will go too, and we’ll see animals. Because I’ve been a good girl. I’ve been a good girl and Father loves me.

Everybody respects him. He tells them how to make sacrifices and how God wants to be worshipped. They call him Leader, and they tell each other he is a man of God.

I wish I could go to sleep. I shall just lie here and try not to think about anything. Make my mind blank. Not think about anything.

I like being the daughter of an important man, I like standing near him while he speaks to the people. God is with you in all that you do, I heard a man tell him once.

It must be nearly morning, but I have not been able to sleep at all, I am so excited. Mother does not want me to go. She said it is too long a trip for a child, but Father said I am hardly a child any more, I am almost a woman. He winked at me when he said it, because we all know I am not really almost a woman.

Get a good night’s sleep, Father told me before I went to bed. I am trying hard to do what he said.

I hear people moving around. It is still dark but the servants are getting everything ready, and I hear Father telling them what to do. Telling them what food to pack for our trip.

I am going to get up.

Mother sets bread and goat cheese in front of me, but I push the food away. I want us to be on our way. I want to help Father make the sacrifice.

It is barely daylight when we leave for the mountain. I sit on the donkey in front of him. I do not fear falling off while our bodies bounce up and down, because he has wrapped his arms around me. I know he will not let anything bad happen to me. We talk as we ride, and he makes jokes, which I laugh at. Then I make jokes too, and he laughs. Behind us two servants carry our provisions. And the wood for the sacrifice.

I am sleepy. With Father’s arms wrapped around me, while we bounce up and down, I fall asleep.