October 1, 2026
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.” (Genesis 22.1)
REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:
Haven’t you found it true that some things are so familiar, you pay less attention to them and begin to take them for granted. I know I do. It creates a sense of familiarity that becomes far too casual. It is as if we have convinced ourselves that what we know now puts us on autopilot and cruise control. So much so does it do this that we don’t think too much about it. We do it with ourselves, others, work, play, neighbors, kids, pets and…. even God. What a mistake to assume we know more than God all that we need to know of ourselves.
For the mighty ones of God, when the name Abraham comes to mind, the story of Isaac is not far behind. We probably do not think of his birth narrative. It is a variation of stories already known to us as in Cain and Abel before Abraham and Jacob and Esau after Abraham. By this I mean, Isaac’s birth narrative is a story of two brothers as well but from two mothers and two distinct natures. We might characterize them in this way: Sarah the submissive but wants to be strong and Hagar the strong who is asked to be submissive. How we see their natures interwoven into the story of Abraham. He, too, battles with the vital question of “Who am I?” It is that question which arises again in today’s passage of scripture. it rises up out of a time of relative peace and a settling in. Both Ishmael and Isaac are born after a time of waiting. They both have their own growing up years before being confronted with a transition of sacrifice. For Ishmael, his transition came with an adult circumcision and then a sending out. For Isaac, well we know his story as one of familiarity far more than we know that of Ishmael’s. I am speaking, of course, of the call of Abraham to sacrifice his only son conceived in love and not from the law of the land. It is that familiarity I spoke about at first. I do not want us to be so tuned in to that story that we miss the introduction. In our “microwave and entitled” culture and climate of getting to the result without considering the journey mentality, I want us to press “pause” just for a moment. That is the purpose of the introduction to the story of Isaac and Abraham which begins, “Some time later…” or in some translations “After a while….” Such an introduction sets the scene of peace and prosperity. It might seem like a calm or a lull or a sense of security. What is that lead in to the movie “Jaws”? Oh yes, “Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water….” We were led into the story of Abraham and Isaac with two events: the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael (fortunately with an assurance of God’s blessing) and the “peace” treaty between Abraham and Abimelek (again with the blessing of God with the sacrifice of seven ewe lambs.) There is nothing to indicate that all was not right in the Abraham clan. The last voice of the preceding chapter was “He lived a long time in the land of the Philistines.” Yes, in the land of the Philistines. Just that name conjures up an image of another story we are too familiar with. So familiar are we with that story we jump generations and events to get to it. Our mind does that, you know. We hear of the Philistines and run to the Valley of Elah, or as I suggest in writing about the 23rd Psalm as a battle anthem- “valley of the shadow of death.“
What does that have to do with Abraham and Isaac? It has to do with faith and deliverance and the establishment of the story of salvation with the coming Messiah, the L”a“mb of God. How do we know this? We know this because after a time, Abraham is challenged to step out again from relative peace and prosperity by faith. On a day when Abraham was out from the rest of his community and focusing as a shepherd does on his flocks and domain probably from an elevation to see all that is his as God has provided, God speaks. I love it when people say they can’t hear God or never hear God and assume God doesn’t speak. God speaks. He speaks a time and place and manner that indicates we are in a position to listen even when we may not think so. I have always believed that God can speak at any time or place and that He speaks in a variety of ways to inspire us to consider “the works of His hands.” Most importantly, God speaks to us when we have taken time off from the rest of the world to just “be.” An interesting word that very “be” or “to be.” See, your mind did it again. The quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet came to many of your minds just at the mention of that verb. We heard from Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be, that is the question.” Was Abraham asking the question on that day when God called out to him? We don’t know. Nothing is mentioned. Was God talking to Abraham and Abraham wasn’t listening being consumed in thought about something or nothing? Is that why God said “Abraham!“? We don’t know that either. What we do know is a precursor to another revelation that should have come to many of our minds when we heard it. We heard it specifically in the stories of Moses and Isaiah. What was the revelation? It was in Abraham’s response, “Here I am,” or in some translations, “I am here.” What is so unusual about that? Because the simple response will point out a unique spiritual relationship with the God of the Universe whose very name we will learn in the days of Moses as “I AM.” This was no ordinary moment in the life of Abraham, and by serious extension- Isaac. This was most certainly a life changing God moment when God would reveal Himself directly to Abraham and cause Abraham to do the same to Him.
Are we here in that moment, mighty ones of God? In our present day and present situation, looking for answers when all seemed at rest and suddenly wasn’t, “are we here” and “are we listening? I pray your response is “I AM” and “WE ARE.” Now, we can go on with the rest of this story… tomorrow.
TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
