I chatted with a friend the other day. She asked me, "Why do you think God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?"
What would you say? Think about it for a second. And after you've taken a little bit, let me share with you a few of my big "I wonder why I was tested in this way..." thoughts. ***Disclaimer : These really don't compare with being asked to sacrifice your son.
Example A: I'm weird. I don't mind public speaking. I don't mind as much putting myself out there. Talking in Sacrament meeting was a cinch. Teaching a lesson, guiding a discussion for an entire hour, terrified me. Last school year, I was called to be an Elders Quorum Instructor. I taught in Elders Quorum about once a month-ish. I could have easily said, "No. Teaching is not for me."
Example B: I love running. I ran cross country in high school. I was one of those crazy kids who just loves to run. After high school, I ran a half-marathon and seriously just LOVED it. I would easily do it again. As you might recall, most of my fibula was removed from my left leg to reconstruct my mandible. The doctors said that I can run, but it might not be that easy. And I'd have a really hard time running something like a half-marathon.
So my answer to her question?
I think God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because he loved his son so much. You remember that Sariah had trouble having a baby for years. To truly test our faith [and obedience], I think the greater our love for what is being tested, the more true our action and response really is.
I think God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because he loved his son so much. You remember that Sariah had trouble having a baby for years. To truly test our faith [and obedience], I think the greater our love for what is being tested, the more true our action and response really is.
For example, say you own two vehicles, a beautiful sports car that you really love, and a minivan that you kinda like, but gets the job done. With the factor of the cost of the vehicle and repairs thrown to the side, and assuming no injuries occured, would you be more upset if your sports car that you loved was totaled? Or your minivan?
Maybe think about it in the way that our Heavenly Father possibly sees it. I really don't want to see my child suffer, but seeing how he/she reacts to the hardest of challenge will reveal who they truly are, good or bad.
There are hardly any trials that don't impact us in some way. But those trials can really show our character. They can change us, show us a better way to live (maybe more post-trial), and help us gain an eternal perspective and/or testimony.
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While are trials really are trying, its important to realize something. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, it talks about temptation. But I also believe you could switch out "temptation" for "trial", "tempted" for "tried"...
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
That is so comforting to know that no matter how hard the road may seem ahead, walking down it is possible.
If in an hour, you were faced with a hard trial, and given the choice to go through with faith and be obedient, or to shy away and follow your own guidance rather than the Lord's, what would you do? Evaluate yourself. I sure have done some self-evaluation on myself. Each time I straighten my course to resemble the will of the Father, I am never disappointed. I am never left alone. And I am brought to see a greater miracle. A greater way. Much greater than if I were to shy away.
"Have I not commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. For the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9
Keep running!
