Susan LaffertyThe psalmist watches the wicked. And envy almost leads him astray. Almost.
Psalm 73 details what he sees. Chronicles his struggles with the why of their influence and power. Their wealth.
He wonders if the straight and narrow is worth the painful realities of his life.
“I don’t read the Old Testament,” she said. “I don’t like it. It’s too bloody.” She cited the blood of battle and sacrifice.
Her words followed my announcement that our small group would be studying passages in the Old Testament.
And I knew what she was talking about. You don’t have to read very far before there it is again.
Blood and sacrifice.
Isaac lay on the altar watching his father prepare to sacrifice. No sacrificial animal in sight. A strange place for a beloved child. It didn’t make sense. His father had said “The Lord will provide, my son,” but time was drawing near and here he was, bound on the altar of sacrifice. Unexpected. Unexplained.