What would I give up for God? Am I prepared to give my wallet and my whole income to Him? Would I take my very nice bakkie just like that and give it someone who needs it more than me? Would I allow homeless people to move into the empty room sin my house? Or if God asked me to sacrifice my family, would I do it?

How far would you go if God asked you? How much would you sacrifice?

God pushed Abraham to the limit. His only son, the one they had prayed for, the one that would be the start of their many descendants – God wanted him to kill his and sacrifice his son like a sheep on an altar.

I wonder what was going through Abraham’s head. Did I hear God right? This can’t be right? What is God thinking! How can I kill my own flesh and blood like that?

He must have been overcome by sadness and grief.

I will never forget the raw grief of a father who phoned to ask me to bury his little boy who was only a few months old.

He longed for a little boy, but a few years after their daughter’s birth they gave up. It wasn’t meant to be.

But what excitement when a son made his unplanned appearance 12 years later! Dad was so proud and praised God for this gift. Only to be followed by raw sobs and many question marks on finding the lifeless little body one morning.

It was inhuman.

Just like God’s request to Abraham. And amidst the bunch of unanswered questions, huge hurt and raw sobs, Abraham took the inhuman step and started to build the altar of rocks.

God did it to test Abraham. And what a difficult test it was. I really don’t know if I would have passed this test. Abraham thought differently: ¹⁹Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that’s what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar.

What made it possible for Abraham to go as far as placing his son on the altar and taking out his knife, was trust. Trust in God. Yes, he had many, many questions. He questioned what God was doing, but he still believed and knew that God had a better plan.

And God did have a better plan.

We have to make sure that we have a suitcase filled with trust, so that when hard times come calling, we will hang onto God and His promises. It doesn’t matter how illogical the challenge we face seems – we have to trust that God will make a plan and that He has a solution somewhere in that dark place – even if it takes a miracle.

Scripture
Hebrews 11:17-19

Reflection
What would you sacrifice for God?
Do you trust God?
Do you trust God for a solution?

Prayer
Father, sometimes I wonder if my faith in You is strong enough to withstand the attacks here on earth. I know You are all powerful and concerned about Your children. I believe it. Help me to know and believe that You will help in my situation too. In Jesus’ Name, amen.