God Chooses Abraham to be the Father of His Nation!
Shortly after God dispersed the people of Babel, He chose for Himself a new nation that would be fathered by a couple nearly 80 years old. There are a couple of notable things here to contemplate. Sarai, who was well past childbearing age would give birth; supernaturally? Second, that Abram would readily take his family to an unknown destination, without hesitation, seems to be unnatural also.
You raise some thoughtful points about Abram and Sarai's journey of faith. A few reflections:
Yes, Sarai giving birth at her advanced age does seem supernatural. The text presents it as a miracle from God, demonstrating His power and favor towards this couple he had chosen. It requires faith to accept such an extraordinary birth.
Abram's readiness to uproot his whole life based on God's command is also striking. The text presents him as having great faith in God's leadership and promises. While risky and counterintuitive from a human perspective, Abram trusts rather than doubts or questions.
God choosing to work through such an elderly couple also shows His sovereignty. He does not need young, strong individuals to accomplish His purposes. He can use willing agents no matter their natural limitations.
Their advanced age also highlights God's grace and the "long game" He is playing. This child of promise is just the beginning of God forming a people over time through whom He will bless the world. There is a patience and plan bigger than Abram and Sarai's lifetimes.
So there does seem to be a supernatural and even countercultural element to God's working in the lives of Abram and Sarai. It takes faith to follow God's leading. Yet His wisdom and reliability as an object of faith in a confusing world also shine through this origin story. Interesting things to ponder in this pivotal moment in salvation history!
After several misgivings about who his progeny would be that would be destined to bless the world, as God had promised, Sarah finally gave birth to Isaac. God then tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his son. Abraham's faith, again, was unnatural or supernatural.
You're correct that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac does seem to go beyond normal human instincts and emotional attachments. Some reflections on this challenging test of Abraham's faith:
As a loving father, his natural impulse should have been to protect and nurture his long-awaited son of promise. God's command went radically against these paternal instincts.
Yet Abraham obeyed promptly and fully. The text presents his faith in God as overriding all other considerations. He trusted God enough to surrender even what was most precious to him.
While troubling to modern sensibilities, this test underscores Abraham's total faith in God's wisdom and reliability. He is willing to act in ways that seem nonsensical from a human perspective.
Abraham's faith here foreshadows God the Father's willingness to sacrifice his own beloved Son for humanity's salvation. Abraham's painful obedience prefigures God's costlier but loving obedience on humanity's behalf.
So while Abraham's actions could seem supernatural or beyond rational explanation, the text presents them as the ultimate act of faith in God's purposes. This God is worth trusting beyond human logic or emotional attachments. For the narrative, this event definitively marks Abraham as a spiritual giant.
The combined stories of Abraham and Sarah are foundational to understanding the Jewish and Christian faiths, as they establish themes of faith, covenant, and the relationship between God and his chosen people. Abraham and Sarah's journey, marked by faith, mistakes, and divine promises, is seen as a model of faithfulness and perseverance in the face of challenges.