Our Challenges; God’s Tests
Proper 8
Life is full of challenges. Some challenges are self inflict while other challenges are inflicted by other people, accidents, or natural disasters. God, who bestows free will to humans and freedom creatures and the natural elements, causes some challenges and allows others. No matter the origin or source of a challenge, challenges can be endured, overcome, or transformed with God’s help. With God, struggles, hardships, and troubles can become experiences that clarify our purpose, deepen our faith, and equip us for service.
Isaac dealt challenges from a young age. His parents were a hot mess. The dysfunction of his family hurt and traumatized Isaac. When he was about 3 years old, his mother convinced his father to send Ishmael, his beloved older brother, away. Sarah did not want her adopted son (Ishmael) to have the same rights and privileges as her biological son (Isaac). For Abraham and Sarah, Ishmael was not merely undeserving; he was undesirable. Ishmael was living reminder of their doubts; he was proof of their failure to trust God.
The pain of loosing his brother was compounded by parental abuse. Genesis 22:1-14 About five years after Ishmael was ejected from the family, Abraham took Isaac to worship. Abraham did not tell his wife or servants that he thought he heard God tell him to sacrifice Isaac. If Abraham had told them, they would have worked to convince him that God would not hold a child accountable for the sins committed by their parents. Generations of the faith communities, decided God must have been testing Abraham. The Book of Genesis says,
God tested Abraham. God called him, “Abraham!” And Abraham answered, “Here I am.” God directed Abraham, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering… Genesis 22:1-2a
Abraham, escorted and aided by servants, lead Isaac to a holy place to worship God with a sacrifice. Isaac was old enough make the long journey. He was also smart enough to notice the servants had not brought a lamb for the sacrifice. I wonder if God was speaking through Isaac to clarify the directions given to Abraham? As they walked,
Isaac questioned his Abraham, “Father!” Abraham responded, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac asked, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham replied, but avoided answering Isaac’s question, said, “God will provide the burnt offering… Genesis 22:7-8
Isaac who had been hurt, would soon be terrified. Genesis says Abraham built an altar and laid the wood in order. He bound the hands and feet of his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. Genesis 22:9b-10
Isaac must have been terrified by this incident. Family dysfunction had robbed him of his brother and now was subjecting him to parental abusive. In the aftermath of these traumas, Isaac might might have uttered words we recited in Psalm 13.
How long, O Lord? will you forget me for ever? how long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day? how long will enemies in my own family (sic.) triumph over me?… Psalm 13:1-3
Generations of faith communities read the stories about their patriarchs and matriarch. They looked to them as role models. They decided the challenges Abraham faced though self inflicted were tests; tests from God. For our ancestors in faith seeing how their role models coped with life’s challenges was more important than determining the cause. God was a very present help in time of trouble for Isaac. God saved Isaac: causing a wild ram to get caught in a nearby thicket; and shifting Abraham’s attention. When Abraham’s attention moved from guilt to trust, he saw the ram and sacrificed the animal rather than his son to atone for his sins. God was a stern and merciful disciplinarian for Abraham and Sarah. God held them accountable for their doubts while fulfilling God’s promises to develop their trust.
When challenges come it is important to know whether they are self inflicted or caused by others, accidents, or natural disasters. Knowing how to cope with a challenge is, however, far more valuable than identifying its origin. When troubles rise, look to and listen for God. God is with you. Psalm 13 invites us to
put our trust in God’s mercy; and let our hearts be joyful because of God’s saving help.
If your suffering makes it hard for you to feel God’s saving help, use your mind. Remember the times, places, and experiences when God saved you or someone else. Then “…sing to the Lord.” Sing songs of lament, “no body knows the trouble, I’ve seen; no body knows my sorrows. Sing songs of celebration, “oh, happy day; when Jesus washed my sins away.”
…sing to the Lord, for God has dealt with us richly; and …praise the Name of the God… Psalm 13:5-6
When Abraham was a hot mess God spoke directly to him, “Abraham!” Abraham listened and looked for God, even when he had doubts and when he misunderstood. Abraham responded to God, “Here I am.” Genesis 22:1b God also spoke to Abraham through Isaac. Through Isaac God questioned Abraham’s interpretation of God’s worship directions.
Isaac said, “Father!” Abraham responded, “Here I am, my son.” Genesis 22:7a Don’t we need a lamb for this sacrifice? When troubles rise, God is with us and God will talk us through our difficulties. Sometimes God speaks directly to us. Other times God speaks to us through others. After the death of her husband and sons, God spoke words of consolation and hope to Naomi through Ruth, her daughter-in-law. Naomi had told her daughters-in-law to return to their families of origin so their parents could arrange for them to marry. Orpah went home, but Ruth refused.
Ruth, expressing God’s mercy, said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Ruth 1:11-12 & 16
When challenges come your way, cry out to God. I’m here - in the hospital bed, unable to pay my bills, alone and forsaken. Then listen and look for God. Call, look, and listen remembering Paul’s words “all things (even challenges) work for good of those who love God.” Romans 8:28 No matter their origin, challenges can be endured, overcome, or transformed with God’s help. With God’s help, they can become experiences that clarify your purpose, deepen your faith, and equip you service. Call on God. Look for God. Listen to God.
