A couple of hours ago my answer to that question was different than what it is now. let me explain...
Earlier today, I undoubtedly would have responded: I have full confidence in God, I will do what ever He asks me to do knowing He will take care of me, and I would do it with no hesitation.
I would imagine if you have been a believer for any length of time your response would have been similar, very similar.
What made me change my mind, Genesis 22.
To fill in some blanks on what is going on in Genesis 22, it is as follows. Abraham has waited his whole life to have a child (specifically a son). He and Sarah are now at a very old age. Then, God works and Sarah in her old age is able to conceive and give birth to a healthy boy that they name Isaac. You can imagine now that Abraham has that son, that he and Isaac are inseparable. They probably hunted together, fished together, and played catch. This was his boy, the one he had waited his entire life for.
Then God tells Abraham:
2 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.”
(Ge 22:2., NIV)
From that point with no hesitation, no question, and no second guessing Abraham packs up his son and two servants and heads out. Even though Abraham would have known that God said in Deuteronomy 12:31 and 18:9-12 that human sacrifice was detestable in the eyes of God, he still did what God told him to.
Listen to what Abraham says, and you will see his FULL confidence in his God:
5 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.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Ge 22:5-8., NIV)
Both times when Abraham spoke about it he had full confidence that they would BOTH be back, and that God would provide the sacrifice. Not only that but the confidence that Abraham had in God he has passed down to Isaac.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Ge 22:9-10., NIV).
Now I don't know about you but the moment that my dad would come at me with a crazy look in his eye, ropes to bind me, and a knife I'm going to fight him with all that I have got. Isaac didn't. He had full confidence in God, and in his father.
Back to the story, Abraham raises the knife and is about to bring it down...... God stops him. Miraculously a ram appears with its horns caught in something and Abraham takes the ram and does the sacrifice instead of his son.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Ge 22:12., NIV)
That was the point, Abraham held nothing back. He had full faith and full confidence in God.
Here is where I have trouble. I love God. There is no doubt that I do.
I have four daughters. I love them.
I cannot answer positively that if God asked me to do what Abraham did that I would.
I would like to think I would, but I would be lying to myself.
So the answer is clear: I don't have full confidence in God; at least not compared to Abraham.
Just something to think about, have a great day.... Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment