Devotion for week beginning Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Genesis 22: 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

I don’t read this story very often, but it is assigned for this day (2/3/10) in a planned daily Bible reading.

What a great story this is!

Abraham was a man, just a man, and if you read enough scripture, you’ll find he had many faults.

But this act of willingness to sacrifice his son, and we even get to the point where Abraham is holding his knife, is pretty touching.

Actually, it’s pretty scary. And extremely challenging.

I think all of us put ourselves in Abraham’s position. We ask ourselves if we could have done it to our child.

Our only child.

I tend to think the answer is pretty easy.

Not in a million years.

But you know, I am not sure that makes us so bad.

I think it just makes us human.

The only one who could really make the ultimate sacrifice is the one who asked Abraham to do it. And I think in God’s heart, God in the flesh Jesus was the only one who could be given over.

Does God test us like God tested Abraham?

I’m not sure, but I think life is a huge challenge.

And sometimes, we are up to the challenge, and sometimes we are not.

Again, I would say, I am not sure that makes us so bad.

What I think is when we hear the stories of God’s faithful people, we are simply inspired to do our best in whatever circumstances we are serving.

And when we realize that the “dearest and best,” to quote an old hymn, dies in order for us to be forgiven for our unfaithfulness, we are even more inspired…and relieved!

I don’t really think God wants to test us.

I think God wants us to fully rely on this one who, as one theologian says, just “is.”

The relationship is everything. Abraham knew that.

Give it a try.

Lord, thank you for staying in relationship with us, even when we walk away. Amen