This is why I trust in God pt 11 – I have given Him my all.

Well … I have tried to do so throughout my life and it still is the constant prayer.

Abraham is known as the father of faith. He passed the test and God knew He feared Him.

How? It was this event, though very difficult for us to comprehend. At a time when many nations were involved in child sacrifice comes an unpalatable story of our own.

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” (Hebrews 11 v 17-19)

Up to this point Abraham’s credentials to be the father of all nations was suspect.

A man more afraid than full of faith.

A man used to lying if needed rather than speaking the truth despite the consequences.

A man who couldn’t lead his own family very well.

A man who ‘Ishmaeled’ his Isaac taking things into his own hands instead of asking God.

Abraham had surely been tested and encouraging for us he failed quite a lot of the tests. Without the testing of faith what is left is only a feeling of faith, a wish, a desire to have. There is much of this faith around. But without testing there is a danger that this faith is little more than desire. How will the testing happen and what does it look like?

It is in what we will give up.

Will we let go of something precious to us?

Why is that important?

It is because it mirrors Him. God gave up His only Son for us.

Can we get to the place of saying, ‘not my will but yours be done’?

Sacrifice reveals the element of fantasy held within any faith story. Sacrifice keeps us selfless and makes sure that benefits from faith is not the motivation for faith. Sacrifice involves the now and what is precious to us now.

How could Abraham do what he did on Mount Moriah?

It was simply because there was no Abraham left. Who’s life was more important? Abraham’s, Isaac’s or God’s?

It is possible to build an image of God from within our own need and desires and not from the fact that He is far above; all omnipotent; an all powerful God tho desires that we totally surrender our lives to Him in love and worship.

Every one of us can pass the test if today we surrender once again and we give to God our all. It is sacrificial faith.