The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Thursday
January 17, 2008
Later on God tested Abraham's faith and obedience. "Abraham!" God called.
"Yes," he replied. "Here I am."
"Take your son, your only son ¾ yes, Isaac, whom you love so much ¾ and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you."
The
next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his
servants with him, along with his son Isaac. Then he chopped wood to build a
fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place where God had told him to
go.
Genesis 22:1-3
And you think God has asked you to do some difficult things…not! Yet, I'm sure if you took the time to reflect on a few tough seasons in your life you would discover that He did test your faith and obedience.
As humans it is often easy for our hearts to make a transition in love from the Creator to His creation. This often happens to newlyweds and to parents of newborn children; even parents of adopted children. God knows this. He placed the characteristic need to love inside of us. Again, He is teaching us about choices.
Abraham had a choice to make. Would the son the Lord gave him take precedence of his love for Yahweh? God knew what the outcome would be, but Abraham needed to know too. Therefore, God tested him.
Dealing with hurting people is difficult at times. As I listen to a person pour out their heart it is often sheer discipline to keep my mouth shut and not just give the person the whole picture as the Holy Spirit gives it to me. All I am ever instructed to share with them is a piece of the puzzle; which is what God gave to Abraham on the path to praise.
All Abraham had to base his decision to obey God on was God's promises to him. He knew in his heart that God would provide a lamb (v. 8). As the moment of truth closed in on this father and son, time was vital. If Abraham moved too quickly or didn't pay attention to his surroundings, Isaac would be a sacrifice. God's love prevailed.
When God placed a newborn baby in my life in the summer of 2001 to care for I was shocked, I didn't know what to do. Yet, all I knew was that I was to obey. I had to make the choice to love and with newborns that isn't difficult (at least not for me).* Yet, what with erratic feeding times, etc., I soon found God taking second place in my life. That was when I began to notice that I was in a dry spell and I rushed to the well.
Daily I see Satan's attacks on the Body of Christ getting stronger. It burdens me to see so many people having difficulty in their marriages, but what concerns me more is the lack of intimacy so many people have with their Creator. Abraham was intimate with God and the way he passed the test of faith and obedience proved this. How intimate are you?
Lord, more and more I see that the lack of intimacy with You is the cause of so much pain. We are afraid to share who we are with anyone ¾ especially You. We ask You to free us from this conflict and help us be honest with You and with ourselves. We need You Lord!
*This baby was the grandchild of my sister Carolyn, her daughter tested positive for drugs in the hospital and the Social Worker had her call a close relative and it just happened to be me.
