Genesis 22:10

Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

One day as a test God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. So early the next morning Abraham got up and prepared for this endevor, cut all the wood he would need, packed up the donkey, took the all the supplies for those on the trip, traveled for three days to get to the place this was to happen, build the alter, arranged the wood, bound Isaac, placed his son on the alter, then took the knife in his hand. Nowhere in this story is there ever any hint of second thoughts by Abraham, no arguing with God, no pleading for God to change His mind. Strange, the contrast of this silence when told to scarifice his own promised son when a few chapters back this same man is dickering with God about the destruction of Sodom if there were but 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10 righteous men found there.

There's no doubt I've been more influenced by the world than I care to admit, seeing many things in shades of gray rather than in bold black and white. If it were me I'd probably be thinking wasn't cutting enough wood proof enough for God of my obedience? Or how about loading everything up and setting off on the journey? Surely traveling for three days proves my willingness, right? But with obedience there are no half-hearted measures. It's either full bore right to the very end or it isn't obedience at all. Where am I stopping short in my obedience rather than going all the way, even to the point of raising the knife?

But this story is also about God's faithfulness and "faith-worthy-ness" when we do obey. Even as Abraham and Isaac were trekking up the mountain with no idea how this would turn out, Abraham told Isaac, "The Lord will provide." when asked where was the sacrifical lamb. Abraham wasn't looking for a way out of obeying God. He just had faith in God. Do I have faith enough to just say God will provide, period, no ifs ands or buts?