I like walking in other people’s shoes to understand their experiences and hearts better.

However, Abraham and Sarah’s shoes are a bit too big for me. Imagine how big their smiles were when Sarah, at 100 years old, told Abraham she was pregnant! At first, he must have thought she was joking, followed by shock when the news started to sink in.

A miracle!

I can just imagine the joyous celebration! They probably had to stop themselves from spoiling and pampering this gift from God so that he could grow like an ordinary child.

And then the much bigger shock when the command came that Isaac had to be sacrificed. Cutting his throat like a lamb being slaughtered to be burnt on the stone altar. They were paralysed, the questions a burden too heavy to bear.

Amidst all these questions Abraham had to drag along, he still went. He did not understand everything. He couldn’t believe that God could give with so much love, a miracle, just to take it away.

But he pushed on. And he kept believing. And he kept trusting that there would be a solution somewhere along the way. And there was! Thank goodness for the ram stuck in the bush. Thank you for a miracle!

While I was standing in these too-big shoes, experiencing a piece of their lives, I wondered if I would have been able to do it. Would I have been able to take that miracle child to be sacrificed? Would I have been able to let go of my dreams?

You see, something like this is only possible when you’re in a relationship with God. You can only let go and let matters take their course if you have an honest and intimate relationship of trust with God. Without such a relationship, Abraham would not have stepped outside to call the people to the stone altar.

^21-22Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action.

I suspect God wouldn’t expect us to do something so huge as to sacrifice our child. But there are things in our lives that God wants us to do and things He doesn’t want us to do. Some are more difficult than others.

We can only pack our suitcases and push towards the proverbial stone altar within an intimate relationship with God. Do you have a close enough relationship with God to do that?

Scripture
James 2:14-26

Reflection
What does your relationship with God look like?
Is it intimate enough to serve as an altar?
What is it that you should go and sacrifice right now?

Prayer
Father, I fear the shoes are too big. I’m afraid I won’t get up and push towards the stone altar. Help me have a more intimate relationship with You so I can do what You ask of me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.