Testing… Testing…

The history of testing is troubling and it’s been revealed how biased and even harmful tests can be.  In the familiar passage of the binding of Isaac, God is giving the test.  This story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his child and Abraham proceeding to carry out this test without challenge or question is a troubling one for those of us who believe in a loving and merciful God.  We ask, “How could God have done this?” But maybe that’s the wrong question.  How can we find more liberation in asking, “How is this liberating for those who tell it?” or “Why would a people tell this story of testing about their God and their patriarch?”