As I am reading through the book of Genesis, I landed on chapter 22 for January 1st. In that chapter, as with all scripture, we gain an important lesson, one that is especially helpful as we launch into a new year (but just as important every other time of year too).
In chapter 22 we read about God instructing Abraham to sacrifice his only son (by his wife Sarah) to Him. If God were to tell you to do this, what would your reaction be? I’m not sure whether I would be confused or try to find an excuse not to obey. However, neither of those were Abraham’s response.
Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied. God said, “Take your son—your only son, whom you love, Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.”
Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.
On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place in the distance. So he said to his servants, “You two stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go up there. We will worship and then return to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father?” “What is it, my son?” he replied. “Here is the fire and the wood,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” “God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together. Genesis 22:1-8
New English Translation
Instead of questioning God, Abraham trusted Him to provide and make a way for things to work out. Abraham didn’t hesitate to follow God though he didn’t have the full picture. As we see when we finish reading this historical account, God never intended for Abraham to actually sacrifice Isaac and God provided him with an animal sacrifice instead (Genesis 22:9-14).
If God never intended for Abraham to make the sacrifice, why would He ask Abraham to do it? Good question. God wanted to see how much Abraham trusted Him. Sure, Abraham could say that he trusted God when everything was somewhat easy for him to put the pieces together; after all, he had a son, the son would carry on the lineage, and bah-dah-bing-bah-dah-boom everything is hunky-dory. However, if God instructed Abraham to give up the one and only thing that seemed to make everything work out and fulfill all God’s promises, it would reveal whether Abraham trusted what he could see or who he knew God was and what God had said He would do.
I lovingly refer to this as “Blindly Following.” A lot of times we use that term in a not so positive way. However, in this case, I want you to step aside from your negative perspective of the idea. Understand this, God gives you pieces of what He wants for you, but He doesn’t give you the whole picture at once. Why? Because if you’re anything like me, you’d go nuts and ruin everything trying to force the final result into play. So, in His kindness, He makes sure that we have the info when we need it, making it much harder for us to go crazy.
However, sometimes we mistake this kindness as God abandoning us. We think that we aren’t getting enough information or that our lives are stuck when really God is waiting for us to be satisfied with what we have and use it to the fullest before He gives us anything more. I mean, think about it, if someone never uses something you give them and complains about it all the time, are you really going to give them anything bigger, better, or even desire to give them more of the same thing? Not really.
In my own life, this is relevant in so many ways. Seeing vocational ministry at my fingertips but not quite graspable yet, seeing the end of my bachelor’s degrees so close yet so far away, and being single in a world where we seem to over value dating relationships all work together to make me feel like I’ve missed the boat sometimes. However, it’s not that my life isn’t going anywhere or that I’m doing anything wrong. God merely has me where He needs me for right now and I’m not ready for anything more yet.
Can you imagine how much different our lives would be if we were content with what God has given us, whether it be homes, tech, friends, family, education, etc.? I know that my life would be much brighter had I learned to be content early on. I still stink at being happy with what God has given me and where He has placed me. However, I am honestly trying to improve in that area with the help of God. It’s interesting because it has slowly become easier to identify when I begin to slip into discontentment. What I have to remind myself is that getting to know God and be with Him is far greater than the things I can wish I had here on earth.
I’d encourage you to take some time to think about whether you are willing to blindly follow God. Are you ready to trust Him even when His way doesn’t necessarily provide you with the instant gratification you had previously desired? Are you willing to be content with where He has you and what He has for you? If so, I encourage you to join me in this prayer:
Lord, I am sorry for not being content with what you have done for me. Please forgive me for my ungratefulness. Remind me daily all that you have done for me and show me how you are moving in my life. Teach me to be content and help me to trust you more and more each day. Prepare me to follow you blindly. Amen
