Guiltless Hands

Guiltless Hands

I don't know why, but when I looked at these tiny fingers on my dad's hands it made me think of Abraham's love for Isaac when he was commanded to offer his little boy as a sacrifice to the Lord. I couldn't sleep. God kept on bringing it to mind. So I decided to get out of bed and write my thoughts down on paper. Well, then I decided to post it on my blog because it has continued to be heavy on my heart. So, if anyone happens to persevere through reading this severely long blog, hope it's just what you needed to hear from the Lord too.
"That son whom thou lovest." (Gen. 22:2) This has always been a wonder to me. Why would God give such a command? And HOW could Abraham obey it?!!! Would I have the kind of faith Abraham had? Could I love God more than this adorable boy who has captured my heart like nobody else could? Could I be so victorious over such a temptation? Now this is really stirring up a storm within me! Abraham was faced with quite a decision. My heart aches to even think of it. How could God expect someone to make such a sacrifice? Where does faith like Abraham's come from? If God came to me and said, "Jennie." I could say, "Here am I" (vs.1), like a good servant would. In fact I probably would be pretty excited to see what great thing God was going to reveal to me. But, if I heard what Abraham heard, "Go kill thy son.", it would be like a sword piercing my side. "You can take anything, anything but him, Lord!" "No, it must be Isaac." But, Lord, I love Isaac, he is to me as my own soul." All this is against me. Could I pass this trial of my love to God? But, God's command was given and His command must overrule all my emotions. But, this is not only murder, but the worst of murders. And to make it even worse, God gave him no reason for it (at least Scripture doesn't give any). Isaac must die and Abraham must do it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. THis darling of the family. Abraham's pride and joy. Yet, he goes on with a holy willfulness. He builds the altar, lays the wood, and tells Isaac the amazing news, "Isaac, thou art the lamb which was provided." BUT, how could tender Abraham tie those guiltless hands which had often stretched out to embrace him. Tears are welling up as I think of it. But, it MUST be done. Having bound him, he layed his tiny body upon the altar and tied his tiny hands. He gives his final farwell... How could one do this?! How could one have such a fixed heart toward the Lord to fulfill this act of faith and obedience?
But, this is what God was waiting for. This point of true surrender before he would intercede. Abraham proved that his love for God was greater than his own comfort of being loved by his beautiful son. He was willing to offer it up to God's will. THEN, God's wonderful deliverance came. "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me." (Gen. 22:12-13).
Do I have such regard to God's authority? Am I willing to serve and honor Him with that which is dearest to me and to part with all for Him? I know Satan doesn't want us to have this deliverance. He wants us to idolize people over God, believing they are all we need. God never intended for us to be in bondage to such idolatry. He promises that he is the only one who satisfies (John. 4:13-14). If my adoration of others is not given to God, it will go to Satan. Have I given this completely TO God or is it being put ABOVE God as an idol? Someone recently encouraged me to meditate on Romans 6:16-"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Not withholding that which God wants you to give to Him will bring about an incredible advantage.
Gen. 22:17-18- "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
Abraham was ready to give up his son for a sacrifice to the honor of God, and, on that occasion, God promised to give his Son, a sacrifice for the salvation of man.
Matthew 19:29- "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."
May we be willing to give up our loved ones, the people we adore most, the ones that give us awe and enjoyment, for God. Someone recently recommended that I read the book of Revelations and start looking more carefully for God's glory around me during my day, just to develop an increased desire to grow in the knowledge of Him and obedience to Him. It has helped. I know I will continue to stumble in this area, but I know God is faithful to pick me up if I diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 12:25-29 -"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire."

Hope these truths were as much of a blessing to you as they were to me!
-Jennie