I just finished reading chapter 22 in Genesis. I think we all know this story: God tested Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It struck such a chord with me this morning. For a number of reasons.
One, the author does not touch Abraham’s emotions. He leaves it completely up to the reader’s imagination. As I read through it, I could only imagine what Abraham must have felt. Here God was asking him to sacrifice his son. The son he and his wife had waited and waited for. The son God had promised him great blessings through. Can you imagine how he felt, walking up that mountain?
Two, Abraham’s response. He’s walking up the mountain, and Isaac asks him, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” We don’t know how Abraham is feeling at this point. As a mother, I imagine he is terrified. I imagine he is filled with agony and desperation. But how does he respond? He responds with complete faith. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”
I don’t know about you, but Abraham’s response convicts me.
I started thinking this morning. Besides the obvious (my family), what would be the hardest thing for me to sacrifice? And the answer always came back the same: my writing. If God asked me to bring my writing up on that mountain and sacrifice it, would I do it? I’m praying I would. I’m praying I would respond with faith – just like Abraham. And I think, when I reach that point – the point where I completely trust in God’s provision as a writer just like Abraham completely trusted in God’s provision as a father – that’s when God will pour down His blessings.
Just in case you don’t know the rest of the story… God did provide the lamb. And because Abraham didn’t withold his son, God blessed Abraham’s socks off.
Question to ponder: Is there anything in your life God wants you to bring up to the mountain? How would your life look if you did?
Probably my sight (other than family as you said). I can’t imagine losing my hearing as I love music like I love my beating heart, but I don’t know if I could handle not being able to see. I’m too paranoid. 🙂
Also, about Abraham’s feelings. We are left to infer, but I like Kierkegaard’s comment that the reason Abraham rose early in the morning to walk Isaac up the mountain is because he couldn’t sleep all that night, tossing and turning, struggling with God’s command. Among other things, it shows that faith is not a cake walk.
Hi Krista! Thanks for following my blog. Yes – finances are a hard thing to sacrifice. God might ask that of me someday… just like you. While I wouldn’t mind quitting my job to be a full time mommy and writer, it would be a very scary step into the unknown.
Wow, great post! Sacrifice is a scary word sometimes… I suppose a big sacrifice would/will be financial security. Right now I have a great, stable job and we are doing just fine, but someday… should God open the right doors, it will be a big thing to let go for me.
Hi Marybeth! Thanks for checking out my blog and I’m glad you enjoy it! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate the input!
Wendy – I will for SURE check out your blog. I’m in a rush to get out the door for work today. But when I get home tonight – definitely. I always love me a good blog. 🙂
Hi Katie,
I’d love to have you check out my blog (if you haven’t already)…I get the sense we both are pretty similar in what we like/write/how we choose to live.
http://thoughtsthatmove.blogspot.com/
I love the probing stuff. 😀
Would love to hear your thoughts.
~ Wendy
Number One…LOVE the name of your BLOG and I completely know the feeling!!!
Number Two…wonderful topic. It is easier said than done to say I would be willing to sacrifice my children or writing if God willed it. After watching a friend lose a child of her own recently I could not imagine the pain and suffering I would feel, especially walking up to that mountain KNOWING I had to give one of my children up. I’d be willing to give up my writing in a heart beat to save them! I suppose that makes me slightly selfish.
Awesome blog! I look forward to following it!
Thanks for sharing your comments, everybody!
Jill – that’s so true. I often pray that what God wants would be what I would want.
Jeannie – I’m so excited for you about your move! I know how eager you are to go back home.
Eileen – I’m glad you enjoyed the post. As a new mother, I was in tears when I read that chapter from Genesis this morning. It’s the first time I’ve read it since Brogan. I can’t imagine either.
Cindy – I’m totally there with ya, girl. I’d like to think I would give it up. But even as I type this – I’m thinking, “Oh Lord, please don’t ever make me do it!”
Jody – what a cool story! Thanks for sharing!
God did call me to sacrifice my writing once. I didn’t think I would ever be able to give it up. But then I came to a point (after the birth of my twins) where it was suddenly a very easy decision; I just knew it was time to let it go. I know the Lord doesn’t always make it easy to sacrifice, but I think he did for me. I was able to glady surrender this area of my life for quite a few years. Then about two years ago, I could feel him opening the door again. In hindsight, I can see that the sacrifice was one of the best things I ever did! I grew so much during those years!
Wow, that’s really something to think about, Katie. Mine is the same as yours, my writing. I’ve wondered off and on what it would be like if I felt God telling me that I needed to give up my writing. I can’t imagine. I honestly don’t know how I would respond, but I know it would be hard and I would feel like something very important is being taken away from me.
This is an amazing post, Katie! Thanks for sharing. I’ve often wondered how Abraham did that. Managed to not scare his own child in the very real fear he must have been suffering. I believe even God gave him the response to Isaac’s innocent question. As a parent, I don’t think I could have spoken in such despair.
My writing has been taken from me at least once in the last six years since I started this journey. But after a few months off, God saw fit to give it back to me. Right now, I’m not sure that I’m being asked to sacrifice anything totally, but I’m sure it’s coming. I’ve learned that God likes seasons as much as the weather offers here in Southern Ontario. I wait and listen for His direction.
God has already required me to sacrifice my license in this move. i didn’t want to do it! i’d worked so hard and long toward this goal, only to not have it recognized by Mississippi? SO hard to do. of course, i’ll be working towards another licensure, and keeping my CA license active while doing so, so i suppose he gave me a way around it…my lamb. great post katie. i love it when people share God’s words with us.
Abraham’s selflessness and trust awe me. It’s difficult to pray for what’s best for us as opposed to what we want, but I trust that God will lead me on the right path.
Thanks for the inspiration.
That’s a good one – I have that problem BIG time. I’m a big time words of affirmation gal. I need to make sure my ultimate affirmation comes from the Jesus man.
Mine is looking for validation from others. Good, probing question.
~ Wendy