Here I am

Why would God ask such a thing? Even in a world where child sacrifice was taking place in the worship of Molech by the evil Canaanites. Is this a test? If so, surely this is just a horrible one?

“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.” (Genesis 22 v 11-12)

For me, this story raises more questions than I am comfortable with. Yet embedded within it is a sense of deep faith and the power of testing.

The story is too brief. We don’t read of what was going through Abraham’s mind when he received the command to sacrifice his only son, the promised child, the miracle boy. We don’t hear of his angry exchange with God or a sleepless night beforehand. We don’t hear of him telling Sarah. We speculate about what the 3-day journey was like and what they discussed. When Abraham was tying his son to the altar with ropes so that he couldn’t move, our anger rises because it is just plain wrong not to be. The text doesn’t tell us anything. We make our own minds up about those things.

There are so many things that we cannot understand about God. If this story is real (I believe it is), then it is beyond our comprehension. Any form of child abuse is evil. Why would God test Abraham like this? Why would God ask to receive back what had initially been given to Abraham? Sometimes it isn’t easy to understand, never mind agree with, a friend’s testimony of what God is leading them into.

So what do we do with this?

Bearing in mind that this is the epitome of ‘Don’t play with fire or you might get burnt’, is this story about either or both of these two points?

a) God letting Abraham realise that He is not the God that the Canaanites worship – He does not accept or desire child sacrifice.

b) This foreshadows something greater when the horrible story is carried out in its fullest. God sent His Son, Jesus the Lamb, who was tied to an altar for the sins of the world; there was no substitute ram, which we will read of tomorrow.

So what am I pondering on in prayer this morning?

Here I am

It’s the first thing he said when God called to him at the beginning of this story. It’s a provocation for you and me today.

Here I am

Here I am. I’m here. I have many questions but I am here. You know my heart. You know my desires. You know my concerns. But I’m here God. I’m right here. I’m listening.

Here I am. In what seems to be the greatest testing challenge of my life. I am here willing to be obedient to you. I have many questions. But I am not the great I am. I am just here.

Here I am. I believe in you. I’ve been looking for a ram, a substitute, another way out, but I cannot see one, not yet. I am here fully engaged, reluctant, slow and not knowing if this is a test or not, but I’m here.

Here I am. Available. Listening. Ready to respond. Knowing you are faithful. Knowing you are a Holy God. Knowing you have given me promises for my life.

I am here. The words ‘Here I am’ are on the tip of my tongue waiting to speak them as soon as you speak first.

Here I am. These three words will remain with me for the rest of my life. A reminder of my faith in you, not to you, but to me.

Here I am. I withhold nothing. Here you can have my all but I am listening for my name.

‘Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am”

His provision is sufficient. The test is over. He knew all along but I went this way for me to know, God is more precious to me than what God has given me.

Here I am.