Gen 22:1-19
God commands Abraham to sacrifice Issac.
This is what “TESTING” looks like. God asks us to do the inconceivable or the improbable or the impossible and we obey, one step at a time – TRUSTING that He knows what He has asked and that it will be taken care of by His hand. Abraham attitude is this: ” I know WHAT God has asked me to do. I don’t know WHERE or HOW He’s asked me to do it, but I will be ready, immediately.”
Abraham didn’t hesitate in obeying. v3 says he rose early in the morning. Contrast that to Lot leaving Sodom (Gen 19:15-17) to save his own life! “Save your own skin and your family” vs. “Kill your only son” – which would make more sense in hesitating?
1. God reveals what we need to know, WHEN we need to know it. “He is seldom early, but never late.” I have heard many times. I know this was certainly the case when we adopted our kids from Russia. There were so many delays and frustrations both during the adoption process and certainly after the adoptions. Had God revealed everything to us at the beginning, I’m not sure we would have obeyed as we did. It’s been HARD. It’s taken its toll on my biological kids and our family in general with 2 of the 3 kids we adopted having RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder). But, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing because where I am spiritually with the Lord, where Dawn is with the Lord and where we are as a married couple is far more than I could have ever hoped or imagined. Would I do it again? Tough call.
2. God provides what we need to have, WHEN we need to have it (the ram). This is the second time this theme has come up recently. The recent post I did on Hagar had the the theme of God’s provision – at the right time – when Hagar found the well (or God created the well – however you want to read it). This is important – especially in potentially crazy economic times – to remember that He will provide what we need, when we need it. My problem is that one word… “WHEN”, usually my definition and his definition are not the same – in fact – they rarely are.
It’s all about His timing, His will, His call on my life. I only have to have the same attitude as Abraham.
“I don’t know WHERE or HOW He’s asked me to do it, but I will be ready, immediately.”