...because God made it that way.

As a parent or a grandparent, we say things like, "Because I said so" or "Just do it" or "Just because" usually out of frustration, but sometimes because we don't know how to make little brains understand big ideas. A couple weeks ago, I was on a walk with my 3-year-old grandson, and we were looking at acorns and colored leaves that were on our path. I was trying to explain to him that squirrels collect acorns to have food in the winter, but I found myself not doing a very good job of putting it in terms he could understand. When I knew I was failing, what I really wanted to say was "You'll just have to trust me" but I knew I couldn't. He DOES trust me... he trusts me to tell him the truth.

I was reading in Genesis this week and I read the story of Abraham and Isaac. These lines of scripture always fascinate me. There are too many things NOT said in this story. Many times, I try to put myself in the shoes of whoever I'm reading about in scripture. It helps me remember and it also helps me understand. But I have a really hard time with this one. REALLY hard!

I am supposed to believe that Abraham, without fear or hesitation, took his son, who was old enough to ask questions, on a three-day trip for the sole purpose of sacrificing him on a mountain? I understand doing something God's told you to do. Been there, done that. And Abraham had the privilege of having a one-on-one conversation with God. If I audibly heard God's voice, I'd probably do what He said too. But to not question the sacrifice of your only son, your child? To not hesitate or delay? As a parent, I can't even conceive the thought! Not once did Abraham ask WHY. Not once did Abraham say - BUT God, he is my only son. He's my CHILD!

Abraham didn't have to remind God that Isaac was his only son, because God already knew. Genesis 22:2 says, Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” God knew exactly what He was asking of Abraham.

So, Abraham, clothed in faithfulness, did what God told him to do. Genesis 22: 3-6 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. Abraham had every belief they would BOTH return.

Even when Isaac asked his father what they were going to use for the sacrifice, Abraham never doubted his God. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (verse 8) He went so far as to bind Isaac up and lay him on the altar and had his knife raised, ready to sacrifice his son, when an angel of the Lord stopped him and provided a ram that was stuck in the thicket.

What kind of lesson that must have been for Isaac! To grow up knowing that God will ALWAYS provide and that he could trust his God in ALL things, in ALL circumstances. What a wonderful lesson that is for ME! To take God at His word... without hesitation. To trust God so much - to trust Him with the life of your child. It is a goal I am reaching for but have not grasped yet.

Did you know that God NEVER says "Trust me" in the Bible? People say "trust God" in the Bible, but God never says it. So, I decided to do some digging and I have been learning more and more about the Greek and Hebrew words - the original words of the Bible. The Hebrew word for trust "batach" means to be comfortable and vulnerable around them, to let your guard down. To me, that sounds like a beautiful relationship - a bond built with time and testing. The Greek word for trust "pepoitha or petho" means "to believe."

Trust, or rather comfortable/vulnerable (batach) and believe (pethro). Those words ARE used in the Bible, but sparingly. About 200 times throughput the Old and New Testament. I find it interesting that God chose to use the words that best describe how we are to relate to Him so sparingly that I had to dig for an explanation. Maybe it shouldn't surprise me. Maybe that's the whole point... to seek His face. And in the seeking, we find the God of comfort, the God we can believe in at ALL times.

I hate to admit it, but I'm jealous of Abraham. Abraham had a true relationship with God. Abraham believed in God so much that he was comfortable with his Creator - so comfortable that he never second guessed Him. Abraham believed in God and knew the character of God so well that he knew it would be out of character for Him to take his only son from him... the son he waited until he was 99 years old to have.

And there was reward for his obedience, for his belief. The angel spoke to Abraham a second time. Genesis 22:15-18 says, The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Because of Abraham's pure belief in God, He blessed Abraham and all of Abraham's family for the generations to follow. Jesus is in that genealogy. And like Abraham, God knew what it meant to sacrifice your only Son.

I know there are times when God tells me to do something, and I hesitate. Either out of fear or because I don't understand why. And I'm sure there are moments when He is patiently whispering, "Just trust Me." But even in the moments when He says, "Just because I say so," I need to remember who He is. He is the Great I Am. He is my Lord and Savior. He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is the God that created the trees, and the acorns, and the squirrels... and the precious little boys that ask "why." And in ALL things, I know He will be truthful - even if I don't understand it at the time. Not because I ask Him to, but because He loves me enough to sacrifice His one and only Son for me.

Matthew 16:24-25 NIV

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.