Text: Gen 21, 22
Our God is a master planner. His plans are wise great and amazing. Often his ways seems strange and unusual. But he never makes mistakes. He has purpose in everything he does;either to correct or to confront or to counsel.
In Gen. 20, we see a foolish mistake Abraham commits and it needed God’s intervention to rescue him unharmed. After this incident we see God is helping him to get settled. He got a land to stay without trouble (Gen. 21:14, 15; 21:22-34). He had his wealth increased. His neighbors were at peace with Him (21: 25-32). He did not have a threat to face for his life, family or wealth from anyone. He had peace and tranquility in his economic and social life.
Moreover, he had peace and tranquility at home. Isaac is born (21:1-2). He saw God fulfilling His promises (21:1-8). This must have given Abraham a great sense of satisfaction and joy. The party Abraham hosted when Isaac was weaned (v. 8) was an expression of this joy and satisfaction he had. That was definitely an announcement to the public that he now has an heir. And he indeed is now ABRAHAM (father of many nations). I think Abraham had a tough time to hide his shameful feeling when he introduces himself as ‘Abraham’ to someone ever since God changed his name ( Gen. 17: 5). For, if a person ask him back, “so, how many sons you have, being the father of many” he had no one to point to. But now that is not the case. He wanted people to understand that and share his joy in this. He was at peace.
But one thing that troubled them was the presence of Ishmael – the son according to the flesh. He was a scoffer (v. 9). That was a human thing to expect. But that did hurt the peace of his home. So he had to act according to what Sarah said (v. 10) which was also confirmed to him by God (v. 12, 13). Thus Hagar and Ishmael were cast out from their home. That brought peace and tranquility at his home. Followed by this we see the peace treaty he made with Abimelech, the Philistine king (v. 32). Thus Abraham enjoyed peace and tranquility all over (cf. v. 34). I believe, during this time he must have been enjoying his child Isaac. Oh! What a situation to praise God and live in the full ness of Joy!
Then came the test. God is asking Abraham to offer Isaac his beloved son (‘the son whom you love’) as a burnt offering- to be fully burnt. That could really shatter the peace and tranquility he had been enjoying hitherto. If he thought as a mere human being, this is really a ‘cheating’ and ‘putting down’ experience. After giving great hope with this child, now God is asking to kill him. What is this be called other than cheating?! But Abraham knew the mind of God. His trust and faith in God was such that he believed for sure that even if he kills his son as God demanded, God is able to raise him back from the ashes of the burnt offering ( Heb. 11: 17-19).
After all, God is against any human sacrifices. Then why did he ask Abraham to offer up Isaac? It was definitely a test. God always knew what he is aiming at. But the timing he chose for that is to be noted. When Abraham was at peace on every side and when there was nothing that could really bother him, God tested him. Test after tranquility. That is God. I don’t think God was jealous at Abraham loving his son and placing his attention fully upon the child and therefore gave this test to trouble him. Rather God gave him this test to reconfirm (to Abraham and to us) the reason why he blesses Abraham- Because he always responds in obedience to God’s directions. God also might want to have a human parallel act to what he himself would be doing later. He planned to give up His own son for the humanity. And here when Abraham was fully willing to give up his son for God, I believe that made God happy knowing he has a friend in Abraham doing the same He chose to do! In the test that came at a time of peace and tranquility, Abraham did not fail.
When everything is going well with us, which may be a time we need to be conscious of God. A time of peace and tranquility is not for forgetting God rather for acknowledging God’s faithfulness and showing our allegiance to him all the more. We should remember that such times are the best times for God to test us if Abraham’s life is any indication! When everything went well with Adam, then came the test. When everything was well with David, and then came the test with Bathsheba. When everything was going fine, and then came the test before Joseph. When everything was excellent, and then came the test before Hezekiah. The list can go on. God might use such times to reconfirm the reason why he should bless by means of a test. Let us Be prepared.
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GLEANINGS FROM GENESIS is an attempt to bring to life lessons based on the historical events narrated in the Book of Genesis. Joji George Abraham
would post this write up on every weekend as the Lord leads. Thank you for reading this. You may share this with others as the Lord leads you. He invites response as well. Joji George Abraham serves the Lord as a faculty & Dean of Students at Asian Christian Academy, India. He lives in the Seminary Campus with his wife and three children.