April 20, 2008, Praises Along the Way- The Sacrifice

I thought I'd go down to the lobby for a little quiet time with the Lord. Genesis 22 came to mind so I thought I'd see what it said. "Oh boy," I thought. Genesis 22 is where Abraham is tested with his son Isaac, his only son whom he loved; he was directed by God to offer him as a burnt offering.

Not for one minute did I think I was to offer Danni as a burnt offering so don't worry! I did, however, put myself in Abraham's shoes, best I could. How his heart must have sunk when he heard that familiar voice say to take his son and offer him as a burnt offering. The tension in his voice as he told Isaac that God would provide the lamb. Climbing the mountain, picking the rocks up one by one and placing them in a holy configuration.

I can see him carefully, purposefully arranging the wood, maybe a little slower than usual. What must have been going through his mind? Will God come through? What about the promise? He's been faithful before so many times! He won't, he can't, fail me now! I must be strong! I must be faithful to him, I love him so much! But I love Isaac so much too. How will he provide? How far must I go with this until he rescues us?

Some people say that Abraham had a notion that God would spare Isaac, that may be true, but I think that Abraham was still human. As I wrote my thoughts about what he must have been thinking, I realized that those were many of my thoughts. Four times now my daughter has been "under the knife," at death's door. The doctor said that if she had been 80 that first day she came into his office he would have told her to go home. I'm so grateful for God's provision, that he said, "Hold it! We will spare her for my purpose." "She's been predestined for my glory!"

To many that thought may blow your God box all apart, but the Word says in Romans 8:28-30, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Or maybe he won't spare her, though he has up till now - either way he's glorified. The above is a process every child of God goes through. We are predestined, called, justified, and glorified and we have very little to do with the whole process. He does it because he loves us and because he will be glorified!

What trust in God Abraham must have had, what obedience. He was also predestined and called (Gen.12), justified (Gen. 15:6) and glorified (Gen. 22:15-18) just like we all are at many different times in our lives as the process repeats itself over and over, refining and refining until he calls us home.

I don't know where Danni is in the whole process, but like Abraham, I have to be willing, as we all will with our children at some point in time, to put her on the alter and say to God through my actions and words, "I trust you, God, with Danni even to the point of death because I know that my God is the God of RESURRECTION!" She's safe in his hands either way! Some day there will be a resurrection! What joy, what peace to know she has Jesus in her heart! I rejoice!

So, God, I lay Danni, your child that you love more than I ever could, on the altar. I give her to you for your plan and your purpose and for your ultimate glory. I pray for your provision come what may, and I rest in you.

Thank you for filling me with your peace that passes all understanding that saturates every fiber of my being. Thank you for your powerful presence upon me now. You are so good. I praise you, Lord! I praise you! Amen!