As I was rereading Ellen White's take on Abraham's final test of faith, I was deeply reminded of my brother and the loss that he suffered.
Abraham was by no means a perfect man, yet he is acknowledged as a righteous and faithful man. Abraham passed and failed tests of faith just like the rest of us, and so it was that "God reserved His last, most trying test for Abraham until the burden of years was heavy upon him, and he longed for rest from anxiety and toil." (PP pg. 147). At 120 years of age, with the promised son barely an adult, God came to Abraham and told him to sacrifice Isaac.
The Bible doesn't give us many details, but Ellen White tells us that Satan took advantage of this moment to tempt Abraham away from God's will. Tempted as he was, Abraham turned to God in prayer, yet received to answer. So instead of succumbing to Satan's temptation, Abraham began his journey to Mt. Moriah, praying the whole time that God would see fit to ease his suffering and call off the terrible order. Yet, throughout this entire ordeal and the silence of God, Abraham "did not murmur against God, but strengthened his soul by dwelling upon the evidences of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness." (PP pg. 151).
Most of us are familiar with the ending of the story: Isaac willingly submits to the will of God, and as Abraham is posed over the body of his son, knife raised to kill, the hand of an angel (God?) stays his action. God intervenes, praises Abraham for his faith, and provides a ram for the sacrifice.
"Abraham did not seek to excuse himself from the will of God...He knew that God is just and righteous in all His requirements, and he obeyed the command to the very letter." (PP pg. 153).
"There are many who fail to understand the relation of faith and works...But genuine faith will be manifest in obedience." (PP pg. 154).
For most of us, the call of God is both fulfilling and daunting. We seek to do His will, but when things go wrong, we tend to wonder if we're really following God's will, because wouldn't He protect us so long as we are doing what He has called us to do? This question has hit home for my family as we deal with the grief of losing such a precious child. And yet, I find that my belief in my brother's call and the guiding hand of God is not shaken. I cannot begin to claim understanding in this matter, and someday (soon) hope to receive the answers to my many questions. However, the words of Ellen White ring in my head:
"It was to impress Abraham's mind with the reality of the gospel, as well as to test his faith, that God commanded him to slay his son. the agony which he endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted that he might understand from his own experience something of the greatness of the sacrifice made by the infinite God for man's redemption...There was no voice to cry, 'It is enough.'" (PP pg 154).
God has made no specific promise of life versus death during our time here on Earth. There is no guarantee that we will be safe from pain, sorrow, or suffering. He has, however, promised to be with us, and that one day all of the suffering here on Earth will be gone, and we WILL be reunited with those who have gone before. God is just and righteous in all His requirements...and our faith will be manifest in obedience.
God is rarely early, but He is never late.
“The brighter the heavenly light that is reflected from the character of God's faithful servants, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly are revealed, and the more determined will be their efforts to destroy those who disturb their peace. The murder of Abel was the first example of the enmity that God had declared would exist between the serpent and the seed of the woman--between Satan and his subjects and Christ and His followers.” (PP pg 74-77).
ReplyDeleteEmily, your brother is experiencing the battle between the serpent (Satan) and the seed of the woman (Christ), just as Adam had to experience the death of his obedient son, Abel, and ask God why must Abel be taken. He had done nothing wrong. As your brother reflects God’s character, others will be saved by his actions in loving and caring for the sons & daughters of Tchad.
My daughter worked with your brother in Tchad as an SM for a year in 2007-08. After a couple months she became very sick and was in lots of pain. There was talk of flying her to Paris for surgery, but the decision was made by your brother and the other doctors (from Cameroon), to perform the surgery in Bere. The surgery was successful (appendicitis) and my daughter recovered after a month or so.
It was tempting to request for my daughter to come home. She also became ill about 7 times with malaria, and the Sudan army invaded the country with lots of shooting, but my daughter was answering her call from God to go out and help where others are afraid to go. She was able to save the life of a baby during an ugly birth and many others were given relief from their pains of every day life.
Tchad is not a place for the weak. Most will not choose to go to a call in Tchad. Your brother and wife are reaching out to help where it is needed most. The devil may attempt to discourage them, but we all know who wins the battle. Christ wins and He will raise the dead to be with their loved ones forever and ever, amen.