Head bowed, weeping, I climbed Moriah
The gift wrapped in pieces of my breaking
Yet trusting heart; this gift I waited so long for
This gift I thought I earned at last
This gift I thought now mine for life
This gift I’ve barely enjoyed, now I must surrender.
On the altar of sacrifice, I bowed
Laid the tiny spark that made me glow
The glint I hoped would ignite my life;
By the Word of the Maker, I gave it up
Knowing it will be taken
At the feet of the Giver, I laid it down
Knowing it will be quenched.
On a bed of my tears, I laid it;
Surrendered what I wanted the most
Returned what I waited the longest for
To Him who gave it first
I returned what I wanted to keep
And in trust, still in tears
I walked away and let God.
When we read how Abraham managed to get Isaac out of Sarah’s grip without revealing His plot with God, we see a wise man. Had he said a word about sacrificing Isaac on the mountain, that journey may not have happened and the story won’t be the same today. Who dares the power of a mother, especially one who waited so long for what every other woman got without much ado? Don’t forget how close Adam was with God, still he ate the apple. What wisdom for husbands as they help their families navigate the trying times we live in.
When we consider how Abraham had this deal sealed with God and close to the place of sacrifice, had Isaac take over from the servants, the wood on which he will be sacrificed, we glimpse into the heart of a man whose heart was totally sold out to God. Had he said a word to the servants, those well-intentioned stronger men would have restrained the old man from destroying what they are convinced should be saved. The story would have ended differently.
On their way, father and son journeyed in silence; Abraham deep in thought, Isaac wondering why this time it is different. When Isaac asked about the lamb for the sacrifice, out of the abundance of his heart, Abraham’s lips responded, “God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.” Had he said a word to Isaac that he was that lamb, he may have died as the father of the run-away son. No, Isaac would not have understood that the father he trusted with his life took him that far to kill him in the name of God.
In these days when we live our moment-by-moment life on social media, imagine the firestorm of Abraham tweeting about this trip to sacrifice his son? The FBI would be on his door before he was halfway reading through the hash-tagged responses from an angry world seeking the closest avenue to pile their bitter bile. Social media is a great forum but it has and serves its purpose. When you think of how many have lost opportunities via these media, you think we would have learned but our generation is hard at learning so every day, history is repeated.
Those who walk closely with God do not live their lives on social media because intimacy with God is a private calling not a show. We don’t follow God on Twitter. We don’t love God through Facebook and the rest of them. These are just means that has their place and time. We don’t walk with God with cameras rolling, photos posting and fingers typing. What shows on our media is not the walk itself but reflections and lessons from that walk. In these days when everything is subject to abuse, may we guard our hearts and relationship with God jealously, may we shine as lights in every media, reflecting the glory of the Father in the face of His Son Jesus. Amen.
Blessings
Glory!