Thin Air, High Hope

Recently, I found myself a bit stuck in my morning Bible Studies and honestly a bit stuck overall. Then, I heard a sermon that talked about Moses when he ran away from Egypt after failing in a big way and was wandering in the wilderness. At that time, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush (story here). In the sermon, the speaker speaks of how we might also find ourselves stuck and wandering in our own kind of wilderness at some point in our lives.  When we find ourselves there, possibly from shame or failure or grief, the speaker encouraged us to ask the same two questions addressed in the story of Moses: Who is God? And, who am I?

I decided the “Who is God?” was a good starting point in my own current wilderness. I found a list of Biblical names of God and began studying through them. As I was reading, the story of Abraham and his son Isaac really struck me. Isaac was not just any child; he was the son born out of a promise God made to Abraham. Then, out of the blue, God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. If you’re hearing this for the first time and find it shocking, you’re not alone. It’s a disturbing concept to grasp and doesn’t easily fit with the notion of a loving God, a feeling Abraham might have shared, also. I’ve included a resource below if you’re interested in exploring the story further.

In the story, God is very aware of how special Isaac is to Abraham. God tells him, “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 show you.” Despite the absurdity of the request, Abraham obeys God, trusting God as “Yahweh-Yireh: The Lord Will Provide” (Gen. 22:14). God shows Himself to be faithful, and Isaac remains unharmed. 

This made me think about another Biblical account: Jesus and the rich young ruler. Both stories feature individuals asked to give up something incredibly sacred to them. Jesus asks the rich young ruler to part with his wealth to gain eternal life. Unlike Abraham however, the young man is unable to give up what he values most and leaves feeling sad.

Abraham is prepared to give up his son, while the rich young ruler can’t part with his wealth. Abraham’s faith allows him to trust in a God who provides. Had the rich young ruler seen God in a similar light, would his choice would have been different? It seems our ability to let go is directly tied to our understanding of who God is.

Hebrews 11:19 mentions that Abraham “reasoned” through his faith when deciding to offer Isaac. He didn’t ignore his intellect; he based his decision on his past experiences with God. This challenges me to examine how I handle my own anxieties. Am I reasoning through my worries, grounding them in what I know about God’s character? Or am I like the rich young ruler, focusing solely on what I could lose?

In order to trust God wholeheartedly, it’s essential to deepen our understanding of Him. Learning the different names of God has been a great way for me personally to do this. Each name reveals something unique about God—like His ability to see and hear us (Gen. 16:11,13), or His qualities of patience and boundless love (Exodus 34:6-7). Knowing He’s a provider (Genesis 22:11-14) and a counselor (Isaiah 9:6) brings comfort during anxious moments. These names remind me, and help me to see, how God has been present in various ways throughout my own life.

I find it comforting to know that my faith doesn’t require blind trust. Instead, I can use reason, based on past evidence and on God’s claims regarding Himself, in order to move forward confidently.

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” Psalms 138:2

(For those wrestling with the ethical implications of the Abraham and Isaac story, this resource may offer some insights: https://bibleproject.com/articles/why-did-god-ask-abraham-to-sacrifice-isaac/

**Note: I apologize for any incorrect biblical interpretations I may accidentally write. I am not a Biblical scholar, just a girl who loves her Bible. Please feel free to point out any concerns, mistakes and/or discrepancies that may exist. The Bible is too important to be partnered with ego!

Curious…

• Is something weighing heavy on your heart right now? What names of God could be most comforting or encouraging to you currently? (here is a list of God’s names found throughout scripture to help)
• If you’re carrying guilt or shame, how could remembering that God is slow to anger and rich in love comfort you? Exodus 34:6-7
• Do you find peace in knowing that God is aware of your situation and hears your prayers, as stated in Psalm 116:2-4?
• Like Moses in the wilderness, how could asking yourself, “Who is God in this moment?” provide you with guidance in different circumstances?