Lay it Down and Trust

Sometimes the Lord asks us to lay down our "Isaacs" in order to show us His faithfulness.  

Genesis 22 "Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham...'Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'"  

Now, I don't know about you, but this passage of scripture has bothered me over the years.  Really?  God, why would you ask Abraham to do such a thing?!  Seriously?  

However, Abraham had a very close relationship with the Lord God.  He knew Him and He knew His character.  I believe Abraham knew God enough to know He wouldn't require Him to take the life of His son.  I believe He just followed the Lord in faith.  He was obedient and knew the Lord would honor His obedience and save his son.  

"And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.' So the two of them went together."  Genesis 22:8

God hasn't tested a man to this extreme since Abraham, but there are many times God asks us to lay something down on the alter and trust Him in the process.   

The Lord recently asked my son, Joe, to lay an "Isaac" down and trust Him to provide.  This is by NO means an equal to Abraham's sacrifice, but what the Lord asked Joe to give up was precious to him.  It was his Wii. 

He was wanting to buy a Wii U.  (Don't ask me why...they seem the same to me, but it was important to him.)   He was saving up his money and decided to sell his Wii to earn some money towards his treasured Wii U purchase.  

We had a friend with 3 boys who wanted to buy it and Joe was thrilled!  This friend is in the ministry, so I just casually mentioned to Joe that it would really bless them if he gave them the Wii.  I told him, "You could give it to them as a seed believing for the Lord to provide the Wii U in another way."  

Joe's immediate response was "NO WAY!"  So, I said, "Ok, no problem.  I just thought I would suggest it."  Then I dropped it and didn't say another word about it.  

Two days later we were getting ready to leave to meet our friends to sell them the Wii and Joe came down the stairs in tears.  

"Honey, why are you crying?"  I asked.

"The Lord just touched me and asked me to give them the Wii."  He tenderly replied.

"Are you sure?  You don't have to you know." 

"Yes, I am sure.  That is what I need to do." 

Obedience and trust isn't always easy.  Even knowing it is God doesn't necessarily make it any less difficult.  

Joe cried all the way there and home on that trip up his small mountain.   

The family he gave it to was so blessed.  His faithfulness and obedience ministered to their whole family.  
We prayed and thanked God for blessing his obedience and faithfulness to provide in another way.  

About a week later, God did.  A friend of mine who knew nothing of this story randomly gave me an envelope with a monetary gift that was more than what Joe was going to get for selling the Wii!  I joyfully gave him the money knowing it was the Lord providing and showing His faithfulness to him.  His faith and the faith of others was built by his act of obedience.  

It seems we can learn much from a ten year old.  

God has also asked me to lay down a couple of "Isaacs" lately.  

Recently, I had a choice to make.  I had to lay down my desires in order to follow His path.  However, it turns out (not surprisingly) that His path was far better and more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined! His path led me to a new level of His presence and my purpose.  In His presence is fullness of joy!  I am so thankful I laid down my "Isaac" and trusted Him.  

There are times when the Lord will ask us to make tough choices.  He will ask us to lay down our desires or plans and follow Him.  We can trust that when He leads, it is always the right choice.   Is God asking you to give up something or do something hard?  Just lay it down on His alter and trust.  He will provide.    

"In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." Genesis 22:18