In various cultures some stories are told or read over and over again, from one generation to the next. They are continually interpreted and reinterpreted because their meanings seem to be inexhaustible. The story of Abraham and his descendants is one such story. It has guided and consoled millions of religious people over the centuries; it has challenged philosophers such as Kierkegaard, Wiesel and Derrida and a writer like Thomas Mann – all studied it and commented on its significance. Why does the history of Abraham and his children linger so unforgettably in the mind of humanity?
The patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons – are characters with human failings, people with whom we can identify. They overcome their various challenges not through their cleverness or courage, but by the grace of God, whom they meet, in surprising ways, in the ups and downs of their lives. All of them come to moments when they are overwhelmed by meaninglessness and despair, yet they pass through their darkness to discover a deeper dimension to their existence.
The story of Abraham and his children is a story of hope, much needed in our modern times, where many lives are dull and lack the faith and wonder which permeates this story. These reflections can be read from beginning to end, or used for daily meditation during the forty days of Lent, or any other time. The lives of the patriarchs of Israel do have a special relevance for Lent though, because it is a time of preparation for Easter.
Certain aspects of the stories clearly foreshadow the life, death and resurrection of Jesus: for instance the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son at Moriah, and Joseph’s provision of bread to a starving world. The stories often remind us of the demands, as well as the comforts, contained in the message of Easter. Traditionally, Lent is linked to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert, days spent alone with God, to prepare himself for his public ministry.
Lent is thus a time of sacrifice, of letting go of everything for the sake of deepening our most essential relationship, our relationship with God. It is a time of giving up, not merely of a few worldly pleasures, possessions or habits, but of surrendering the total will to God, as Abraham did at Moriah. In preparation for Easter, Lent confronts us with the necessity of the painful death of the old self, so that a new person can be born – as Jacob was changed to Israel at the Jabbok River.
Lent is a time of cleansing and sanctification. Lent is also a time for interpersonal reconciliation: Jesus died not only to reconcile us with God, but also with each other. This is a truth applicable not just to individuals but to nations as well. In South Africa we have had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but we have to admit that much truth is still untold, and much reconciliation needed. It is a truth also applicable to the world at large, deeply troubled by continuing unresolved conflicts. The stories of Jacob and Esau, and especially of Joseph and his brothers, show the way to peace and harmony for individuals as well as for nations.