Mountain top experience....

So - it was pretty cool this morning, I was spending some time praying and God kept bring a passage to my mind.

The story of Abraham and Isaac, when God asks Abraham to take him up to a mountain that He would reveal to him, and sacrifice Isaac there.

As I was praying through the Word and asking God to open my eyes and let me see His heart and His purpose for me in this passage - a revelation came to me...

God no doubt takes people through valleys and then asks them to climbs mountains for Him. He asks Moses to do it. He has Jesus do it a couple of times.

And here, He asks Abraham to climb to the top of mountain. It is not to be given the Law, or to be tempted, or to be transfigured - it is to better understand the Father's heart.

I love as I read this story that at one point, Isaac asks his dad about the sacrifice - and Abraham's response is very deep "God himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering" (nate paraphrase)

We can see so much in that simple statement. It is God who provides the lamb that frees Isaac. Abraham trusts that God is going to allow his son to live. Abraham's faith is unwavering. Abraham is foreshadowing Jesus. Abraham is placing the burden of sacrifice on God - not himself.

As I spent some time in this passage - I began to realize, that in my quest to be on the top of a mountain with God - so I can speak with Him and experience as much of Him as possible, it will require everything I have. Abraham was willing to lay down the life of his only son... what about me?

Now, God will not ask me to sacrifice my son as an offering, because Jesus was/is the perfect Lamb and my sin is paid for - but can I abandon all, like Abraham, for the cause of Christ?

It never really occurred to me prior to this morning, but to get to the top of the mountain, you will need to be willing to lay everything down and have faith that the God of the universe, our Father, will be there for us.

Abraham's faith should encourage and challenge each one of us to press into the heart of God, trust that He will provide, and know that no matter how heart-breaking it may be, God's way will ultimately lead to a life-changing experience with Him!

Isn't that what we want? To be changed by God?