No one to call God back from the brink

For me, one of the most difficult events from the life of Abraham is how God tested him in relation to the life of his son, Isaac. (Gen 22)

How could God as Abraham to kill his son, his only son as part of a test?
It all seems so brutal?

First he tells Abraham the plan, then Abraham has to organise the trip, then travel 3 days with his son knowing all the time what was coming. Just how do you spend 3 days on a road trip with your son knowing what you have to do at the end of it.

Abraham's obedience and all out love for God is totally unbelievable.

Thankfully at the last second, with the knife in Abraham's hand, God calls him back from the brink and provides an alternative sacrifice.

As I read this story the parallels with God and His Son just shout from the page. As Isaac seemed to willingly submit to his fathers will even carrying the method of his sacrifice on his back as Jesus was to do so many years later.

Only one difference, Abraham was spared the excruciating pain and grief of his son being sacrifice. But no one called out at the last minute to save God the Father from His pain. There was no other substitute. I will be forever grateful that Jesus were willing to endure the cross and God the Father the grotesque pain of watching His Son be tortured and killed.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Heb 12 v 2

To be FULLY Human

Loved this pic posted by Scott Hodge.

When we talk about our humanity as Christians we tend to think of it as something to be destroyed. I think I prefer to see it as something to be redeemed.

Since the fall of Adam humanity as it was, like the whole of creation, has almost been unrecognisable.

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. - Romans 8 v 19 - 23

But then came Jesus, fully God yet fully man. A human the like the world had not seen since creation. The second Adam.

Here to restore our humanity as he intended it.

Choosing where you Linger

The Bible says that Lot and his family LINGERED in Sodom when called out by God. (Gen 19 v 16)

Even in the short glimpse of this place we get in the Bible it wouldn't be a place I would want to visit let alone stay. It seems very dangerous in so many ways. But even after God performs a miracle to see his daughters saved from possible rape, this guy instead of fleeing with God's messengers he LINGERS!

This is defined as: To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance.

On first read it seems bamboosiling to me that this horrible place such a hold on Lot and his family. Why the heck would he want to stay there!

Then I am confroned with the truth about myself.
Even having been confronted and captured by God's amazing, uncompromising, gift of Grace. Which has pronounced me innocent and rightious before God I still choose to hang around sin.

Although by God's grace I have been freed from my slavery to sin and have the power of the Holy Spirit with me to overcome it. I choose to LINGER in and around it.

I hang around my need for afirmation which, once received, can feed my pride.
I dwell on others faults and failings and can harm them with gossip.
I meditate on my own weaknesses birthing anger deep inside as a defence mechanism.

If I linger too long in the wrong place the tentaticles of sin can seem to stretch towards me.

So I try to listen to Paul's advice to the church at Philippi:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things. - Phil 4 v 8

Today I choose where to linger - with Christ!

God can handle doubt

Abraham as a great man of God gives me some comfort. He tells me that great men of God still doubt. The man held up by the great Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Galatia (Gal 3 v 6) as a man of faith, needed reassurance.

God had given him a great promise that his descendants would number more than the dust on the earth. (13 v 16)

Abraham had heard God's promise but yet later he was back before God saying are you sure about this God. Surely this many descendant thing starts with one and time is ticking. (15 v 2)

God had promised him a country that would belong to him. (13 v 17)

Again he doubts and asks God for confirmation. (15 v 8)

The great thing is that God can handle doubt better than we can handle it ourselves. Doubt is an opportunity for God to give you assurance.

Abraham's doubt drove him back to God and far from beating him up for doubting he gently confirmed the promise.

Don't be scared of taking your doubts to God. We see doubt as failure, God sees it as an opportunity to show his faithfulness. Fundamentally, doubt is a process that should bring us closer to God, rather than the reverse.