Barrenness and Blessing

The themes of these stories are profoundly human themes, capturing the persistent interaction between God and humankind. These narratives invite us to witness the manner in which God enters human community in all of its complexities, struggles, challenges, fears, and ultimately hope. As the narratives unfold, not only is it clear that God will not be restricted by societal and cultural conventions, but the human journey will be generated by faith and doubt, fear and hope, promise and fulfillment. Hemchand Gossai not only explores the various themes within a variety of texts, but maintains a constant eye on the implications for the church and contemporary readers. In this regard, some of the literal and particular experiences such as barrenness, wilderness, and wrestling with God are examined as metaphors for our experiences. The richness and texture of metaphors allow us to embrace these stories in a way that makes them our stories. ""Hemchand Gossai has long been working on the stories of Abraham and Sarah with great clarity, literary sensitivity, and theological savvy.In this volume, he expands upon that journey with newstudiesregarding God, the human characters, and their interrelationships.Gathering the major themes from these narratives, Gossai presents them in such a waythat Israel's stories canspeak once again into the complexities of our interreligious world.Students and scholars alike will benefit from his many insights."" --Terence E. Fretheim, Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament, Luther Theological Seminary; author of Abraham: Trials of Family and Faith Hemchand Gossai is Director of Religious Studies at Georgia Southern University. He is also the author of Social Critique by Israel's Eighth-Century Prophets and River Crossings: Memories of a Journey--A Memoir.