Last Sunday, whilst having a brief conversation after the morning service with AR, the passage of Abraham and God's command to sacrifice Isaac came up. AR relayed how he's struggled with this passage. And when I had a chance to share the basic principle which I've come away with from that passage in the Book of Genesis chapter 22, verses 1-19, I realized at that moment God meant for ME to take up a similar challenge in my life right now.
The basic principle I've drawn from this extremely challenging incident is this: In the end, it's ALL about trust in God...Abraham, I don't believe, was ANY different than any one of us with his doubts, questions, and perhaps shock, disgust, disappointment, and, perhaps, even anger at God.
He couldn't make sense of how (on the one hand), God FINALLY gave him and Sarah a son despite the fact that she was beyond her childbearing years and despite their second-guessing Him and trying to work out how to bear a son through her maidservant, Hagar. And not only did God give them a son as promised, He promised that through Abraham would come many nations and all will be blessed through him. And more specifically, God promised that the number of his descendants would be as 'many as the stars' - so, in other words, "a whole load of them"!
So, with that context in mind, it didn't make a whole lot of sense why God would now ask Abraham to give up his promised son, his heir, the first of the many stars... God would have to 'start over'!
But, I think this is where Abraham's faith rests - he knew God COULD'VE started over. When Isaac asked where the lamb for sacrifice was, Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."
Question is: What was Abraham thinking when he said that? Well, we get a clue from the following passage in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, verse 19:
Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
The following link: www.rationalchristianity.net/abe_isaac.html responds to some other common questions about this passage that has challenged us for ages.
For the past 3 weeks, I'd say, I've been struggling with the possibility of leaving London. For my dear friends and family who aren't here with us in London I wish I could convey how we long to be with you. But, we have made a home here and though the kids don't realize it and though we are still waiting on God for financial provisions, we are in a place where we have flourished in our depth and understanding of God, of the Christian faith, of a renewed love and understanding of each other, of what it means to depend on God - WHILE at the same time seeing all of this overflow out of our lives and seeing God use us to share His love, hope, truth to those around us. And as was preached in a sermon last week, the nations are at the doorstep of London - more nations in our morning service than I have ever experienced. As I said to a friend recently, sure, God could bring us back to suburbia and we could go back to the church where God is doing amazing things, and we could throw ourselves into projects and people - but that's what they would be, projects - Right now, we live in and amongst the people - these people from all nations - and there is a rich diversity of social economic class so that people can learn compassion and unity. I walk pass them. We stop to chat or wave hello. I pass by T, a homeless guy that sits by the bank off Russell St who sometimes sleeps in the side passage of the church.
But, as with Abraham, though obviously not that extreme...God has revealed His power and sovereignty in how He has led us, settled us, provided for us, in big and small ways. He has answered prayers we thought were too small. He has taught me to listen to Him and speak His Scripture out and has confirmed His message through others present who had the same Word of Scripture or similar. We are involved in a church where God is also doing great things for the first time in years
Why would He, now, ask us to give it up? J had a similar struggle but with regards to the job he thought God put on His heart. And after he put it on 'the altar' so to speak about a month ago, he's a new man.
When 2011 rolled around, the reality that we could be 'kicked out' near the end of the year began to hover like a dark cloud...one that could no longer be ignored.
So, last Sunday, during the conversation I had with AR about the Abraham/Isaac passage, I was made aware that I, too, needed to be willing to give up 'London' and our home here along with all the ways that we think God will fulfill His work/promises through us and in us here.
Three days later, yesterday, during a time of worship and praise at St M of L, with heart and mind together, I chose to do just that. For Abraham, it was faith in God's resurrecting power to raise Isaac from the dead. For me, it is faith that the same God that has provided and settled us here, transformed our lives, deepened our roots of faith, WILL provide and CAN re-settle us, transform us, and deepen our roots of faith even more ANYWHERE. And the same God can provide J a job that will not only pay our bills and our debt, but provide that work visa for me in time.
As was the tradition, and often command of God, I wanted to remember yesterday as the day I chose to trust in God and He gave me faith. But instead of piling up rocks to make an altar, I bought a keychain with "London" inscribed on it...
Dearest SiNing,
When we left Ireland after only a year, we felt as if roots were being ripped off us. I think there is a unique connectedness we grow when we manage to successfully graft on to the Kingdom in a foreign place. Perhaps we are better able to recognize His power and beauty when it is manifest in new ways. And in some places the Kingdom IS virulent and everywhere else seems insipid by comparison.
But your Tender knows you--you are His beloved branch, and He is determined to get His fruitful harvest, both in you and through you. I was struck this Christmas season by what a hard life Mary, Joseph and Jesus all had in their roles of bringing the Kingdom. Somehow I want to live in the power and the peace and the effectiveness but without social cost, personal hardship, loneliness, etc.
May your Mt. Moriah hike bring you freedom from anxiety and make you ready as God tenderly and lovingly unfolds the next chapter for you guys.
Love, Shanti
P.S. Okay, this is too good. Wyn just walked up to show me a drawing of his hope and my mom's prayer: us saying goodbye to our house and moving onto a farm. It is evidence of the work of God in my heart since Ireland, and again leaving Monterey, that I have very mixed feelings about this: on the one hand, it has been our hope for 10 yrs to get our boys far away from sidewalks and smog. On the other hand, that would mean leaving the neighbors we have invested so much with, one of whom seems destined for the Kingdom! I never thought I would bloom in suburbia.
Posted by: shanti dickson | January 21, 2011 at 11:18 AM