Tag: Genesis 22

Calling My Name Twice

Scripture

Has your heart ever been seized by someone calling out your name twice? You know something is amiss. There is something of great importance that needs to be communicated. You wonder if you did something terribly wrong, but can’t imagine what in the moment. Your attention has been grabbed. Your listening skills are honed in. You can’t fathom not answering.

In a recent Bible study, I was reminded of the times in Scripture that someone’s name is called out twice for great emphasis. And, in looking at the situations, you find that something very important is forthcoming.

Genesis 22:11-13 (NIV) says, “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”

The interruption of a would-be slaying was vastly important. The provision of a substitute was vastly important. The compassion and salvation of the Lord was vastly important. And Abraham’s faith and obedience were vastly important. No wonder Abraham’s name was called out twice.

When you look at other similar instances in Scripture, you find “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:1-4); “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:1-10); “Lord, Almighty” (1 Samuel 3:1-10); “Simon, Simon” (Luke 22:31-32); “Saul, Saul” (Acts 9:1-6); and “God, God” (Matthew 27:46). Each situation depicts something important to be communicated, something amiss, something needing attention, something demanding an answer, something requiring excellent listening skills.

I am reminded to eliminate the clutter on my to-do list and the screen-noise in my life, so that when God calls my name, I am awake and ready to respond. Because I have been quiet. Because I have been ready. Because I have been hopeful. Because I can hear better when my gaze is set on Christ alone.

In the stillness, the blank canvas of my heart anticipates that a call from God will surely come. I definitely don’t want to miss it.

Ram in the Thickets

Scripture

What we love the most, we hate most to lose. This is universal I am sure. Not up for debate or personal preference. It is just plain true.

I have found in my faith journey that God has sometimes called me to let go of someone I love or something I love. This has run the gamut. Letting go of people in my family in a seasonal and/or figurative sense. Letting go of a semi-lucrative career in education in order to work in educational ministry. Letting go of achievement and possible accolades in order to serve others. Letting go of a reputation in some cases. Letting go of comfort in order to do some uncomfortable, but right things. Letting go of my right to be right. Letting go of my need to be noticed. Letting go of foods and beverages that don’t do me any favors. Hands down, it is hardest to let go of people, especially family. Not ready to blog about that yet…

Genesis 22:1-2 says, “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. 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.’ ” Abraham may have asked questions, but it is not recorded. In scripture, Abraham simply obeyed. I can only imagine that his relationship with God had grown to the point where he didn’t question…

When God tests our faith, He brings us to a crossroads that absolutely contradicts our normal instincts. The story of Abraham and Isaac defies human reasoning and makes us wonder if God is good. We find in this story redemption, a timely ram in the thickets, and a foreshadowing of Jesus Who would come and be the slain Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world, Who would die in our place, conquer death and bring about our salvation. We see a merciful and compassionate God Who authenticates faith.

Genesis 22:9-14 says, “…He (Abraham) bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’ “

I enjoy quilting and just recently started a Jesse Tree quilt. It consists of blocks that tell the story of the Bible in pictures. The block posted above symbolizes the ram in the thickets. Coincidentally or not, the construction of this quilt block occurred about the same time we were studying Genesis 22 in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I do love it when God brings several things together like this to make His point in my life…

Anything that hijacks my heart and replaces God as the chief object of my affections needs to be sacrificed. I sincerely don’t want my faith to be weakened by idols, especially people or their expectations of me. If God is not number one, I remain confident that He loves me enough to free me from clinging to the things that I love, especially when I love them more than Him. He provided the ultimate ram in the thickets – Jesus Christ. I won’t soon forget that. Although it has taken me nearly a lifetime of tests of faith – some failed, some passed – I question what hijacks my heart right now, and then I must bind it and let it go.