First And Second Tests
From a plane beyond time itself did the dark cloud and the divine light peered into the schemes of Sefira. Although unaffected, the Darkness and God could tell easily that, for the Lesser Darkness, it seemed that several years passed since the latter became the subject of mass veneration. They gazed upon a momentous test given to the Adonim.
Is my daughter reenacting what I think she's…?
Yes, she is, including realizing unintended consequences not unlike those of that most unfortunate miscommunication with a covenantal mortal. First of all, you saw during our family meeting that I did not – repeat – did not tell him to go elsewhere and offer his eldest son born in wedlock 'there as a burnt offering.' I did not ask for that! Rather, I asked him to bring that offspring 'up there for a burnt offering' to do.
If I recall correctly, Brother, you had already asked the man, in no uncertain terms, to slaughter his very eldest son, born out of wedlock, years earlier.
Absolutely, Sis, I tested his faith in that very manner, right before the man had himself and the other males in the household circumcised. Since he wasn't expected at that point to have the guts to challenge my very character, he passed the test with flying colours. As for the unfortunate miscommunication, the testing was mutual; the man tested me as much as I tested him, only that he tested my commitment to that son and his progeny. Finally, whereas Abram – note the name – passed the earlier test with Ishmael by not appealing to divine mercy, Abraham failed the final test with Isaac by not appealing to divine justice in the first place!
Thus, the man lost everyone who mattered to him. While you spoke to Abram time and again after the first test, you never spoke to Abraham again, at least directly. Both his son and his wife ceased to be on speaking terms with him.
Indeed. Now, Sefira's hand has been forced, for she has been pushed to order her Lilin to, in relation to the resentful Adonim, 'guard you wherever you go.' Don't forget my earlier warning to her concerning the damage they could do if they choose to invoke her name while committing crimes against intelligent creations.
After these words, the Darkness and God discerned that the Lesser Darkness became similarly concerned.
Author's Note: The anecdote of an earlier fatherly attempt on Ishmael's life is based on the alternate sacrificial account in the Q'uranic Surat As-Saffat (verses 100-102). The subversive interpretations of Genesis 22 referenced above are presented in a number of Rosh Hashanah services every year.