Letting Go...

As I have been thinking about how to approach the next few verses in Hebrews 11, I believe the Holy Spirit prompted me to go back and think about human actions and re-actions that are a result of unbelief.  Has anyone ever struggled with letting go of something or someone?  I think we all have at one time or another.   Some people have a difficult time letting go of someone they love who has died.  They just can't move on with their lives and be fruitful.  Others have difficulty letting go of bad relationships--they just want to hang onto that person, no matter how unhealthy the relationship (I'm not talking about marriage, of course).   I have known many young single Christian women who start dating a guy who is not a believer.  The guy may be great and treat them like a queen, so they end up being afraid of letting go of a relationship that is not in line with what the Bible teaches.  Another man may never come along...   Others have difficulty letting go of jobs or career goals--for fear that they might never get them back.  Parents hold on to children too tightly and are over protective, instead of trusting them to God and letting go as they grow older (I have a feeling I may struggle with this one as mine grow up).

Often times, when we don't obey God, fear is involved.  We don't trust that God has something better for us, so we hold on for dear life!  What it all boils down to is...lack of faith in God's love, provision, and His character. 

This was not the case with Abraham when God tested him and asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.   Hebrews 11:17-19

We see some amazing things about Abraham's faith in these verses. 
1)  He believed God's promise.  He knew that Isaac was to be the son from whom God's promise would flow.  So, he reasoned that God would resurrect Isaac--because He never breaks a promise.
2)  He trusted God's character. This kind of goes with point number one.  Abraham believed that God cannot lie, and that He is faithful, loving, and holy.

Lets look at the original passage in Genesis to glean more about Abraham's faith.


Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son , your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”  Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 

Abraham does not utter any why's, if's and's or but's.  He simply obeys God immediately.  Notice there is no delay in Abraham's obedience.  Can we say the same?  I can think of many times I have told God that I will obey Him in a certain matter, just not right now.  "I will eventually....but I really want to hold on to this right now!"   I love the saying,  "Delayed obedience is really disobedience."  Abraham didn't do this.

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 

 Notice here that Abraham says "WE will come back to you" not "I will come back to you."  He knew Isaac would be returning with him.  He FULLY trusted God.

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.  “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 

Again, Abraham believed in God's Provision.  Notice that Abraham didn't dodge Isaac's question.  Instead, with complete trust, He spoke truth to his son.  I think many of us don't obey God in a certain area because we don't want to deal with the questions and ridicule that may come from the people we are trying to let go of.  We are afraid of what we are going to have to say.  Notice that Abraham didn't go into detail with Isaac.  He just pointed to God's character and provision.  In essence, he is saying, "God is good, and he will take care of us."  There are definitely times that I wish I had spoken truth like this to those around me.  

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.  “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 

As believers in Christ, we are guaranteed times of testing.  God is going to test your faith in Him.  You can count on it.  Often, this testing involves a "letting go".  Think about a time in your life when God tested you.  I remember when I had a faith struggle with letting go of my career aspirations.  I knew deep down that I was supposed to be a stay at home mom.  When Caroline came along, however, I struggled with this a great deal.  I had just been promoted to a tenure-track position at SHSU.  My first year tenure review had gone really well, and so there was a certain amount of security in knowing that I would probably get tenure a few years down the road and be an Associate Professor of Voice.  In other words, I had a pretty solid guarantee of job security for my future.   But, if I gave that up, there was no guarantee I could ever get that position back.   Would a university hire me after several years of no experience?  I had waited 5 years for this position to come open, and then Caroline came along.  Was I going to do what I knew God had called me to do, or was I going to let my fears rule my choices?   Ultimately, I knew that God would provide and that He would bless my decision to stay home.  It was tough giving up a position where I was mentoring and influencing dozens of people to just influencing one little girl.  I even remember telling God,  "Do you really want me to give up my larger sphere of influence for one child?"  Even as I asked this question, I knew the answer.  It is not about numbers and quantity with God.  It is about obedience.


 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” 




I love that Abraham called the mountain, "The Lord Will Provide"  Did you know that Mount Moriah, where this story occurred, is where Solomon would later build the temple?  It isn't far from this place that Jesus was offered as a sacrifice.  This will be the exact place where Jesus will set his feet when he returns as coming King!  Jehovah Jireh:  God, My Provider!  Whether you believe it or not, GOD IS OUR PROVIDER.  When we let go of what we think is best for us for what God thinks is best, we allow Him to provide more than we could have asked or imagined.  I can say without hesitation that he has provided for me and for my family over and over again.  His blessing has flowed and I truly believe that because I obeyed Him and stayed home for these years, there will be fruit of that in my children's lives.  We are already experiencing fruit of obedience:  peace, joy, and hope--just to name a few!

So, for those who are in a dating relationship that you know deep down isn't God's best--let go.  God will provide.

For those who are unwilling to leave a job for a different one that requires some sacrifice--let go. God will provide.

For those who have not yet let go of certain addictions--let go of them.  God will provide.

For those who have lost loved ones and after a long grieving period have still not been able to move on--let go.  God will provide.

For those who hold onto their money like it will never return--let go and give to God and to others.  God will provide.

 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

God will bless our obedience.  Not only that, He provides the gift of His Son Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to set us free.  In fact, as many of you know, this whole story is but a picture of what Jesus Christ would do on the cross.  He is our substitute.  Because of his obedience, he has all authority and we receive blessing.  Let us all lay down the things and people we are holding onto that are not bringing God glory.  Lay them on the altar, and he will provide.  He has provided already--just accept His provision.

"What do you hold in your hand today?
To what or to whom are you bound?
Are you willing to give it to God right now?
Give it up, let it go, throw it down."   "Moses" by Ken Medema

Give it up.

Let it go.

Throw it down.

God will provide.