Birth of Issac, Test of faith, January 9, 2013 9:58 AM

Genesis 21, 22:1–19.

“All things are possible with God” (Matthew 19:26). “Everything is possible to one who believes” (Mark 9:22). The story of Isaac’s miraculous birth to a couple beyond child-bearing age surely brings to mind the birth of Jesus, as well as that of John the Baptist. Isaac symbolizes the Christ, the first-born of a spiritual race. We can all take heart in the thought that, when we are facing a situation that seems impossible, with God all things are possible. In fact it is only when human resources are exhausted that Spirit can act. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zech. 4:6). The merely human powers cannot bring forth the Christ. As Jesus said in John 3, “Flesh can give birth only to flesh; it is spirit that gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6 REB) Our efforts only get in the way. We need to relax, and “let God.”

It seems incredible that God would ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the child of the promise. The name Isaac means “laughter, joy.” And the place Abraham was told to take him for sacrifice is “Moriah,” which means “bitterness of Jehovah.” I relate this to our experience in this way: Sometimes, when we are following the leading of Spirit, it seems as if we are being asked to give up our joy, give up that which makes us happy. We are being asked to walk into bitterness, where we expect our joy will be taken from us. The story, in that light, appears to be saying that if we trust Spirit, we will not lose the joy. Something, perhaps something physical (symbolized by a ram), may be taken, but not the true source of our joy. That is God’s promise and can never be lost.