Week 14: I, Abraham

I've been reading



as my bathroom book (avid readers know the bathroom book is an esteemed spot) and this past week reached the story of Abraham and Isaac.

For bible-newbies like me:

Abraham had only one son, Isaac, and he loved this child like none other. To test Abraham's love and devotion for God, God called Abraham to take Isaac to the mountain and sacrifice the boy. Though Abraham was grief-stricken, he brought his son on the appointed night, for Abraham did love God.

When Abraham arrived with the child and prepared to sacrifice him, God forbade him from laying a hand.

Tozer framed it as such:

'It's all right, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you may have the boy, sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent. Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.'

Yet was not this poor man rich? Everything he had owned before was still his to enjoy: sheep, camels, herds, and goods of every sort. He had also his wife and his friends, and best of all he had his son Isaac safe by his side. He had everything, but he possessed nothing. There is the spiritual secret.

I understood this passage in an experiential way. It hearkens back to my own prayer in which I returned H to the Universe and he was indeed taken from me. I did not fight this because he was never mine to possess and in the end riches beyond my imagination came to me. Like Abraham, I have H again (and v2.0 is even better!), I have a new journey that feels blessed, I have exciting job prospects, increasingly good health and a new old car but none of these gifts should hold a harness over my heart.

It is right that prayer marathon occurred this week. Looking back, it was easy to relinquish the world and turn myself over to God 24-7. Because now I have the ultimate supah-mystical, synchronicity-making, lovefest gift of all: a deeper connection to God.

H just called for a quick coaching and prayer and at the end said to me

I hear it. You really do have a direct connection. It's like you have the red phone.

Prayer:

May you too have the red phone.