SOVEREIGNTY “But I thought” —- we all have to wrestle in our hearts with the Truth. Genesis 20:11. If it truly were a matter of the mind, we could change our minds. Are we taking matters into our own hands? What competes with the rule of sovereignty? Do I love God more than my children? More than my ministry? More than my desire not to suffer? More than what is happening to me?
Because I thought in my heart that there is no fear of God in this place. Genesis 20:11. Therefore, I took matters into my own hands again and said: "She's my sister" so they wouldn't kill me. Here is Abraham, the faithful patriarch, back to where he was before, deceiving people, throwing people into the path of sin, offering excuses, disregarding his own wife, and not living in that "counted as righteousness" life. In the Hebrew the verse is translated: "But I thought" . . . If it were a matter of the mind, we could change ours. It's deeper than knowledge, it's our heart that must wrestle with God. Just like Abraham and Sarah.
And what does God do? Forgives. Gives life after, wait, how many years of no children for Abraham? 36,500 suns will rise on this gentleman's life before the promise lives. Waited a century. 100 years. Isaac. Oh, to wait on God. Oh, to go to God. Like the unpretentious unassuming Abimelech, who rose early for directions. Oh God!
God, You promise us that You will act on behalf of those who wait for You, not for a baby, not for a solution, not even for protection. For You and You Alone, may we wait. Isaiah 64:4
G. K. Chesterson once said "We are all seasick together." Just tell me what I have to do to obey you, God, and I'll work out a way to go do it. I'll crawl on glass for you. I'll walk a tightrope. Oh my. We so want the Bible to be a road map to get us there. We silently scream: Give me the plan and we will do it.
PHOTO: On top of a hill on the Rocky Mountains thinking about waiting for God to change me and how I'm always called to move to love. Move this mountain in my life, God.
You and I have need of the strongest spell
that can be found to wake us from
the evil enchantment of worldliness which
has been laid upon us for nearly a hundred years.
C. S. Lewis The Weight of Glory
Abraham loved God more than his father---he left his father's land and all behind.
It's what people give me the hardest saying about: they really don't want to hear
that one more thing has happened in my life or their own life.
is what the mantra seems to be.
So, back to Abraham---does Abraham love God more than his precious son, Isaac.
He is about to find out.
Abraham. God calls his name.
"Here I am." What are are you saying to your servant tonight, my Lord?
No one could be prepared for what was about to happen.
Kill your son, Isaac.
God tells Abraham he must have his son, his only son, the son Sarah wept to bear.
The son of your laughter. That one.
Yes, the one who is as your own very soul.
Do it in the land of Moriah, a 3-day journey for you to consider your every step.
With no known reason like other trials where the reasoning was seen.
No delay in any way or form on Abraham's part.
He even distanced himself from his own servants not to intercede or intercept.
A holy willfulness with the heaviest heart carried by any known man on earth.
Abraham bound the hands that had reached out to grab him as his daddy.
The hands that folded in prayer with his dad. Abraham bound those hands.
The Sun of Righteousness broke through.
Lay not your own hand upon that son.
The answer: Abraham loved God more than he loved Isaac.
What competes in our heart for the rule of the sovereignty of God?
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