REFLECTIONS
May 1, 2005
 
 
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 
 
 
Obedience and faith…
 
If there has been a moment of spiritual awakening in my life, it may have come one morning as I read the story of Abraham and Isaac. As you recall, Abraham waited 100 years for a legitimate heir only to be called to the mountain by God to offer his long awaited son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. What initially seized my attention was Abraham’s obedience to God. I tried to imagine myself responding to God, as Abraham did, by walking to a mountain top with either of my sons to make such a sacrifice. But try as I might, I could not envision myself taking such a walk.
On that morning however a larger meaning of this story of Abraham began to unfold for me. I observed that Abraham made a curious statement to his servants as he dismounted his donkey to head up the mountain. “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." (Gen. 22:5, emphasis added) Even though he had no idea how it all could be pulled off, Abraham knew that God had an answer that would allow him to fulfill the request and still provide for both he and his son to return from the mountain top. He was called to sacrifice his beloved son, but he also expected death to be overcome. He was sure of what he hoped for and certain of what he could not see. I pray for faith that strong.
Next I noticed that Isaac was unhesitatingly obedient to his father’s wish. He had faith in his father and was lovingly obedient to him. Now, I loved my dad very much and I honored and trusted him, but I doubt that I would have been obedient to a request like this one.
Sometimes it takes a while to capture the pictures that God paints for us. Such was the case for me with this episode in the life of Abraham; but finally a picture emerged. It was a preview of a blessing to come. God so loved the world that He would one day call his Son to the mountain as a sacrifice for our sins; and from the garden Jesus would be lovingly obedient to his Father’s instructions. We are now blessed that by God’s grace sin would be washed away and death would be overcome.
 
You are the light of the world,
Richard Ì