here I am (part 1)

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."... and so the story goes in Genesis 22.

Can you imagine receiving such a request from God? Can you believe Abraham's faith? I find it so interesting in this chapter that anytime God addresses him, Abraham always answers, "Here I am."

Wow! Here I am. I've showed up. I'm right here with you, Lord. This is Abraham's default response anytime God made himself known. This type of response shows us a man active and ready.... a man listening for God to speak. This type of faith makes me question if my own response would mirror Abraham's simple demonstration of daily attendance to seek God.

But there is more to consider in this powerful chapter. God unexplainably asks this devoted man to give up the one earthly thing he loves the most... his son, Isaac. Now, I don't know about you, but if I were asked such a request, my first response would be a very big question. WHY GOD? I would be in no hurry to follow-through on this monumentally difficult test of faith. But not Abraham. The scripture shows us that Abraham actually got up early the next morning..... EARLY!!!! Abraham was so confident that God's intentions were good that he didn't hesitate to do what was asked of him.

When they arrived at their desination, Abraham remains secure and tells his servants that he and Isaac will go away to worship and then return.

What??? They would worship? They would come back? At the beginning of this chapter, we see that God makes no assurances to Abraham that they would return? So how could he be so ready to worship? How could Abraham honestly know they would come back?

Abraham knew, because before Isaac was born, God made a promise - a covenant securing Abraham as the father of a great nation under God. He knew, because Isaac was his only son - a son born to him in old age... a miracle in itself. He knew, because in past experiences God was always with Abraham. God was always reliable.

So, Abraham believed with all his heart that this was a great opportunity to worship His Creator. If Abraham had to kill his own son in the process, he understood that God was more important. Without questioning, he trusted and obeyed. God was always in control. God would keep His promises. Abraham believed and was prepared to obediently offer his son as a sacrifice... so, no matter the orders from His King, Abraham proceeded on to worship.

In times of deep trouble... in times of the most difficult hardship... in times that the Holy Spirit leads us into uncertain territory to fulfill God's instruction... Do we hear Him? Do we respond earnestly? Do we follow-through with haste? Do we worship through the trial? Do we believe God is in control? Do we have that kind of faith?

Lord, please give us that kind of faith!!!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson