Apples of Gold

Attempting to create new neural pathways by studying Japanese has served me well. My thinking is sharper and I am having fun trying to navigate this complex language. When I first started this journey, the lessons were quite simple and easy to conquer. At this stage learning is とても難しい!

Most things in life, at least the important ones, follow this trend. Simplicity builds confidence and competence and suddenly the real challenge begins. 

God’s initial call to Abram seemed pretty straightforward and the reward was quite astonishing. 

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3

Many Christians eagerly embrace this stage of their relationship with God. A little obedience brings an enormous and continuous blessing. 

Unfortunately, for some, this is as deep as it gets. It is not that God doesn’t beckon them to come closer, but the proposal he presents is often a bit more ambiguous and the cost much steeper. 

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son-yes, Isaac, whom you love so much-and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” Genesis 22:1-2 

The very promised child God granted after years of waiting. The hope for his lineage. The joy of his heart. It looked like a dead end. It looked like God was about to take his only heir. 

I wonder what conversations Abraham had with God along the journey. If it was me I would have been asking God if he might have an alternative route. I would have hoped at each step that God would step in and say, “Enough!” 

In my Bible college days it was not uncommon to hear students seeking after God’s plan for their lives plead: “Please don’t send me to Africa!” Most were half kidding, but still hoping that sacrifice would not be demanded of them. 

The desire to serve God can find itself at war with the desire for comfort, rest and our own plan. So many things are easy to let go. But what about those things we hold dearest? How do we surrender everything and everyone to God? 

Notice this time God asked for obedience but he didn’t include the list of blessings that would result. He simply asked Abraham to trust him. 

Most of the time I will gladly open my hand and offer the requested item to God without hesitation. There are some things that I want to wrap tightly in my fist and like a stubborn toddler, my fingers must be pried off, one by one, until I relinquish my “treasure”. 

As we grow in our faith, God often asks for a deeper level of surrender. While he doesn’t cause everything, some of the things that he chose not to stop, or alter can leave us scratching our heads and a bit down in the dumps. 

While we know better than to doubt God, we still struggle to find our way out of the darkness and confusion that life sometimes sends our way. Pouting is not becoming and yet we still resort to it at times. 

If we truly want to know God, to be a friend of God, like Abraham, we will face the “Some time later” test of our faith. This test demands an obedient sacrifice that will almost certainly proceed the revelation of the blessing. 

Several years ago, as I carelessly rushed across seaweed covered rocks left behind by the retreating tide, my feet flew out from under me and I crashed hard. 

When we lose our spiritual footing I am so thankful that there is One right there, ready to steady us and keep us from a close up encounter with a serious fall. 

I cried out, “I am slipping!” But your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:18-19

David doubted. David slipped. David received comfort and renewed hope. That same comfort and hope waits for us when we find ourselves feeling surrounded and overwhelmed.

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13

Struggling does not point directly to a lack of faith. In fact, the struggle can be evidence of a deepening of your walk with God. You may have entered your “Some time later” test. 

Our tests will probably look very different, but God is after the same thing from each of us, trust and obedience. He has promised to work everything for our good. When he asks more than we ever imagined, more than we are certain we can survive, will we obey?

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19