What is Your Isaac?

There are 24 verses in Genesis 22, but as a parent, once I read verse 2, all the other verses sound like the voice of Charlie Brown’s teacher, do you remember that?… “wa wawawa wawa wa.” See if you don’t feel the same way…the verse reads, Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Wow!! Really?!?

Even though it’s tough, we need to push through verse 2 and note that the author then paints us the picture of how Abraham and Isaac journeyed to the mountain and the dialogue that took place between father and son. We also need to see how God moved in to save the day and spare the life of Isaac by providing an alternative sacrifice and how Abraham’s unwavering obedience resulted in an audibly blessing from God through an angel.

This story reminds me that years ago James and I gave our children to God. Thankfully, we did not have to go to the extreme testing that Abraham did, but it was still a difficult task. Rather than a physical action, it was mostly a conscious decision in our hearts and minds to literally hand their lives over to him to take and use however he determined. It was not easy giving up our son and daughter but we recognized that they did not really belong to us anyway.  For since their conception, to their last breath, they will always and only belong to their Creator.

As I read Genesis 22, I have a flood of emotions for Abraham such as an overwhelming sympathy and agony. While I know the feeling of “giving up” my children to God, I can’t fathom the thought process that Abraham must have been dealing with as the trip progressed, and as he considered his full assignment. I am especially troubled for Abraham when Isaac asks his dad, “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Do you think Abraham had sorrow or dread in his heart? Do you think there are words to even describe what he must have been feeling? Do you think Abraham ever considered disobeying? If he did, there is no hint found in these verses but rather a steadfast belief that God knew what was best.

Just a little over a year ago, James and I were blessed to become grandparents to a beautiful little girl named Chloe. She has been a source of great joy. What you may or may not know is that just a few months ago she and her parents moved to Kansas to do ministry work. This new arrangement has been a difficult and painful adjustment. I have struggled with the transition from having her every Friday to weekly FaceTime experiences. As I was praying over the situation one day and asking God the “why” questions and seeking his comfort I heard the Holy Spirit ask me a question. “Have you given me your Chloe?” At first, I was shocked! “What do you mean, have I given you my Chloe? I’ve given you my kids.” To that response I heard in my spirit, “Yes, but have you given me your Chloe?” The tears fell then as I cried, for I knew that I had not done so.  I wish I could tell her that I humbled myself right then and there and submitted to this request, and willing obeyed as Abraham did, but I didn’t. I argued and wrestled in my spirit with God until I came into full submission to him, and released her to her Designer. While I eventually succumbed to the act of obedience the process did not represent the beautiful portrait of faith that Abraham demonstrated, but rather an ugly, struggling mess.

The message here in Genesis 22 is all over the place; it is about faith and trust, it’s obedience, it’s giving up that which is most valuable to you, it is humility and it is strength under pressure. It’s laying down all other ‘things’ in life and yielding them up to Him in accordance to his will and purpose!! It is releasing your hold and control over anything and handing God the reigns. It’s believing that he has a higher purpose and that everything I love and hold dear belongs to him. It’s acknowledging the irrefutable fact that he is God and I am not!

So, I ask you? What is your Issac? What is that one thing that you dearly love that you are holding so tightly too? Is it a spouse, children, status, possessions, control, unmet expectations, a sinful habit, pride or worse…your Chloe? If God asked you to give any one of these objects/ matter up to him completely and fully, could you? Would you? Would you yield so magnificently in obedience, faith and trust or would you fight kicking, and screaming in rebellion? In the end, Abraham was blessed for his obedience and sacrifice. It is a beautiful thing to humbly submit to the Lord God. I pray that we can grow in the depth of our obedience and offer up to God anything that he requires of us…what would that be for you?

Blessings,

Christy Garison, Serve Minister