What A Teaching Moment

God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. [Genesis 22.8]

We tend to read this story from its third-party perspective with little or no thought about how it was perceived by all the people in it. By this, I mean that the two servants had no idea really of what went on. Here is the story as they saw it:

The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” [Genesis 22.3-5]

Then they returned to the servants and traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live. [Genesis 22.19]

We take for granted the knowledge of what took place between these two passages. The two servants had no real idea what happened (at least, not until it was over, if indeed anyone ever even told them then).

The point I wish to make here is that our faith will indeed at times be very private and intimate. Not that it will be private and intimate all the time, but we should not be surprised if the "big stuff" regarding our faith is seen and known by few as it unfolds. Obviously, Isaac learned very quickly what was taking place, but beyond him, only Abraham was aware of what was happening. No other faith story in history quite compares with this story of Abraham - and only his son witnessed it.

Today, we tend to make a big deal when faith is involved and feel compelled (for whatever reason) to "make our faith known" when, perhaps, we just need to keep it between us and God. Of course, if we are to miraculously feed five thousand men and their families, it won't be very private and intimate, but, it's highly likely that our pivotal moments of faith (like this story of Abraham) will be known only by us and perhaps one or two most intimately close to us.

The interesting thing about Abraham's pivotal faith moment is that it was his son who was fully aware of what took place. No one else knew what was happening as it happened except Isaac, Abraham's son. What a teaching moment! 

In contrast, my own son just recently mockingly devalued my devotion as ingenuine and just for show. 

I have failed to have valuable teaching moments with my own son. I "thought" I did, but real life has proven otherwise. While other people in my life see and hear what they believe is devotion to God, my own son sees me as a spiritual fraud. I only reveal this here because I don't want anyone to hear or read what I say with any estimation of me higher than that of my own son. I am not the "Father of Faith" and, the "story in between" (what everyone else does not see) has had no significant and positive impact on those most intimate to my life. For the record, my daughter and my wife "see through me" as well.

The lesson here is not one I am qualified to teach, except that the observer should beware of repeating my story. Abraham's story is the standard - certainly not mine. It should be understood that faith (interestingly praised as "fearing God" by God Himself - Genesis 22.12) is best seen by those who know our entire life, not those who know only parts of it.

Father, it seems right that I should confess my shortcomings here today. All I can do is depend on Jesus to change my life and change my story as those most intimate to my life see it. So forgive me - help me, please...