25 to Life - Abraham: A father like no other

What is faith? 

It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.  Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.

Hebrews 11:1-2(TLB)

Dad's, how much do you love your children?  Certainly if the situation were to arise you would do just as I would and die for them in an instant, no questions asked right?  Here's the million dollar question though.  How much do you love God?  (Queue dramatic organ music)  Without question, once again I'm sure you would be like me and say something like unconditionally, or something along those lines.  But what if loving God meant losing your child?  Even worse, what if loving God meant you having to sacrifice your own child?  I mean taking their lives in your hands and ending it.  Sounds pretty harsh right?

I have two boys one 16 years old and the other 16 months old. YEAH take that in for a second, one on his way out and one just getting in.  As a dad I would do anything for my sons, including sacrificing my own life to save theirs.  They are right there at the top of the priority list.  I couldn't possibly imagine being asked to end either one of their lives to prove my faith and trust in God.  Now don't get me wrong my teenager is just that a TEENAGER, so there have been plenty of the "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out" speeches in times of mental inadequacies on his part.  But to actually have to take his life especially after not having him in my life for so long, that's a tough row to hoe, and I'm not sure I could handle it.

Abraham was faced with that very circumstance, and not just that, but God also asks him to leave his home and everything he knows to travel to a land that God will show him.  That's kind of like being asked by a friend to pack all of your stuff because he has a new house for you, and when you ask where it is, he replies "I'll let you know when we get there".  I don't know about you, but I don't even think so.  As a matter of fact, I can't think of one person I know who would go along with such a wild plan.  But Abraham DID!  That itself is a testament to his faith and trust in God.  What sets Abraham apart is that he did just as God asked, without question.  

Genesis 12:4(KJV) So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Abraham and his wife Sarah had no children, something in that era and culture that would get you shamed and ridiculed over.  Abraham however loved God and had faith that He would bless them with a child, and eventually He did.  Ta-da!  Welcome to the world baby Issac.  I commend Abraham's trust, faith, and love for God, but then it happened..........................................................

Genesis 22:2(MSG)  He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.”

Yep, this is where I check out.  Not good old Abe though, noooooooooo.  This guy not only obeys God and gathered wood for a burnt offering, but had his son carry it up the mountain on his back.

Genesis 22:6(MSG) Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry. He carried the flint and the knife. The two of them went off together.

That's like having a guy who is about to be facing the electric chair go and change the fuses first.  PLUM LOCO!  Abraham however did as he was told, and at the last minute...........................

Genesis 22:10-13(NIV)

10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

Ask yourself this........Could I have done it?  Would I have done it?  It's not an easy pill to swallow.  Let's look at it like this, Abraham loved God so much that he was willing to sacrifice his only son to prove it.  

Oh yeah, then there's this........................................

God DID sacrifice His son, He DID watch from above as His son was condemned to death.  He DID all of that to show us how much faith, hope, and love He has for all of us, His children.

I would definitely say that through all of that, He is a father like no other.

God Bless!