Christian Story: The Test

 

It was very late at night. The night breeze was refreshing and cool. But something about the breeze made him think his name had been called. He became more alert, and it was then that he realized it was God.

He realized the visit had to be significant. God was undoubtedly about to speak to him about something. He had no idea it wasn't one of the usual instructions or faith-building meetings. What he was about to hear could shatter him and leave him confused.

"Yes, Here I am," he replied, bowing his head in respect. Then he heard, "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you adore—and go to Moriah." Go and burn him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I'll show you."

As the words sank deeply into his heart, every muscle in his body stiffened. He became cold as a result of the news, which sent shivers up and down his spine. He clutched his chest in agony as the impact of what he heard threatened to take his life. Before he could even say "Jack," he was alone. He wasn't even allowed to express himself.

He discovered then that such information needed to be kept private. Who would have guessed that the child he had waited for so long was about to be taken away from him?

While he lay helpless on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, he travelled back in time to when he was at his father's house. He was ecstatic the first time he had the voice. His mind raced as he tried to process everything he had heard.

That voice had something special about it. When he told his wife what he had heard from the Lord, he realised that something unusual had just happened to him.

No matter how hard he tried to explain it, his wife couldn't believe it. Instead, she attempted to shake him out of his incredible state of mind. It just doesn't seem right to leave his father's house, everything he owns and has been taught, the people, and their gods for an unknown God.

The person who heard the voice is not the same as the person who is hearing him describe his experience. He did not doubt that this God existed. Without further ado, he left everything to obey the voice of God.

He eventually mustered the courage to stand. His legs felt shaky, and his feet became too heavy for him to lift. He straightened his back and made it back to the tent. Whether he likes it or not, he must prepare for the journey.

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The clock was ticking, as were the instructions he received from God. He wasn't sure which was better for him: fast or slow. A slow pace will only heighten his anxiety, and a fast pace will constantly remind him of what he was told to do.

He could not wait any longer because it was morning. However, he pondered within himself, if God could change his name from Abram to Abraham, how come he was now requesting the return of his son, who gave meaning to his new name? With no son to show for it, how can he be called the "Father of Many Nations?" These and other questions kept waging war within him.

Before embarking on the journey, he must first inform his wife, Sarah, and their son. He considered the best way to break the news to his wife, but nothing came to mind. He took slow strides towards his wife's tent. Fear of what he was about to do to his wife in her old age caused him to cry.

"Good morning, my Lord," his wife said as soon as he entered the tent.

What's the matter? You appear to be depressed. Is there anything important?

Abraham responded, "The Lord has appeared to me." "Really? He hasn't appeared to you in a long time." "What did he say?" she wondered, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"He asked me to go to the land of Moriah and offer a sacrifice to Him," Abraham responded.

"How come Moriah?" Can't you make the sacrifice somewhere nearby? Why would He ask you to travel such a long distance just to make a sacrifice to him?"

"That's what I heard, and I must do as he says." That was all he could say to his wife.

"Then I'll go with you."

He wasn't sure if he heard correctly, so he returned his attention to her, and her expression revealed that she was dead serious.

He prayed silently for the strength to say what he was about to say. "I must go with Isaac," he said, looking at her.

Sarah, as expected, was taken aback by the news. "Isaac?" she muttered, staggered. Why was Isaac chosen? That's my only child. What if something happened to him while he was travelling? "What if he doesn't return?"

She went on and on, tears streaming down her face. She could remember how long she had to wait before he had Isaac. When she was barren, her maid couldn't stop taunting her. This son came to fulfil God's promise. He is the reason why she is now known as Sarah.

When Abraham left the tent in search of his son, Isaac, she was lost in her thoughts. He went into his son's tent and waited for him to arrive. Isaac, on the other hand, had no idea his father was in his tent. When he walked in, he was surprised to see his father.

"Father!" he exclaimed, followed by "Good morning!"  "What are you doing here?" he inquired.

"I came to see you." His father responded. "The Lord has sent us to Moriah to offer a sacrifice for Him." Please get ready; we're leaving very soon."

Isaac was perplexed by the news; he could hear the urgency in his father's voice. He did as he was told and put his thoughts on hold.

When he came out of the tent, his father's servants were already waiting for him outside. His father and mother were standing apart. He approached them as he hugged his mother goodbye. In return, she kissed his cheeks and gazed into his adorable eyes.

For a brief moment, he was the baby placed in her arms after birth. The boy who put an end to her humiliation. Her infant son! Her husband's voice jolted her out of her reverie.

"We have to leave right now." He spoke to her.

"Take good care of my son," she said in response. She turned to her son and told him to take care of his father as well.

She stood where she was, waving and watching them walk away until they were out of sight.

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Abraham had endured a torturous three-day journey. At the start of the journey, he hoped to hear God say something different than what he had heard previously. As they got closer to the mountain, his hope began to fade.

His son, on the other hand, couldn't help but notice his father's discomfort throughout the journey. He appears to be drifting away from him. He initially assumed he had offended him in some way. This prompted him to inquire of his father whether he had done anything wrong. But the only response he received was that he had a lot on his mind.

This made him extremely worried. He kept on asking himself, "If God has given his father instructions, why does he seem so distressed about them?" He had a lot of questions to ask his father, but his gloomy face and downcast state couldn't allow him to voice out his thoughts.

It's the third and final day of the three-day journey. While Isaac and his servants slept, Abraham was awake the entire time. He kept staring at his son, pondering how he would tell him that he was the burnt offering.

He has so much faith in God, but the present circumstances were just too much for him to handle. He tossed left and right all through the night. His discomfort must have caused his son to wake up; before he was caught staring, he pretended as if he was sleeping. In his state of pretence, he dozed off unintentionally.

"Father, wake up. It's morning already," he heard his son say. He wished the journey was just like the sleep he had just woken up from. He got up, suddenly feeling tired and overwhelmed. With his Son and his servant, they continued walking towards the mountain.

A few hours later, Abraham looked up and saw the place from a distance. He turned to his servants and said, "Stay here with the donkey while Isaac and I travel a little further to worship, and then come back to you.

He did not know how true the words sounded, but he could not have said otherwise. It was then that Isaac noticed that they had all they needed for the sacrifice except the sheep. So he turned to ask, "Father, we have the fire and wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?" "God will provide," Abraham answered.

Ten minutes was optimistic. Twenty was getting closer to being realistic. Thirty was how long it actually took for Abraham to find the mountain. He started to build an altar for the sacrifice, and he arranged the wood on each stone. The time he dreads so much was upon him, and this time he couldn't stop himself from crying. He broke down in tears right in the presence of his son.

Isaac reflected within himself. I was correct the entire time. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. He approached his father and tried to console him when he heard his father say, "You are the sacrifice." I couldn't tell you anything. I prayed the entire journey, hoping that God would change his mind, but he has remained silent on the subject. I sincerely apologise for what I am about to do to you."

Isaac did not know how to react to the news. He was unable to speak for a while, but he was also quick to recover from the shock. He felt so sorry for his father; he could not have imagined the weight of what he had been holding on to. It is obvious from his father's facial expression that he was truly struggling.

Despite how terrible what was about to happen to him sounded, he obeyed the Lord's commands. His father was taken aback by his son's cooperation. He couldn't stop himself from asking his son how he did it; all he got was, "If God has given you the instructions, then you must obey." Isaac saw no reason why what was about to happen should not be considered an offence against his father.

Abraham could no longer control himself, he pulled his son close to him as he embraced him for an extended period. They both cried at the last second. After a while, Abraham tied his son's hands and legs as he lay down on the altar that was built for the sacrifice.

As he picked up the knife to kill his son with trembling hands, he heard a voice call out to him. "Abraham, Abraham, do not touch the boy." Do not injure him in any way; for the time being, I know you truly fear God. For you do not deny me of your only son."

Abraham's eyes was immediately opened to see a ram entangled by its horns in a thicket. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had provided a replacement for his son's life. In appreciation, he drew Abraham into his arms.

Isaac, on the other hand, had no idea what was going on because his father was the only one who heard the voice. He assumed his father's hug occurred because he was still struggling with the decision to take. When his father finally let him go, he saw tears fall from his eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness. It is a mixture of happiness and peace.

"You've been spared, son," Abraham said at the end. They took the ram and sacrificed it on the altar in place of his son with great joy. From that day forward, the location of the sacrifice was known as Yahweh-Yireh (which means "the Lord will provide").

The end.

© Oluwadamilola Ajayi