Nonsense!!!

How can He ask me to sacrifice my son? My son. My joy and reason for living. What good can come from this? I don’t understand…it doesn’t add up. Nonsense!

“Cut the baby in half!” he commanded. What??? Are you serious? He’s just a baby. How could God give King Solomon the wisdom to come up with such ruling? He should try something else for sure. How will that solve anything? Nonsense!

But why would you want to send me Lord? I am not smart enough… I wouldn’t even know what to say. I know for sure they will not listen to me, please send someone else. I don’t see how this will work. Nonsense!

I’m sure Abraham must have felt dumbfounded when God gave him the command to kill his son (Genesis 22:1-12). Likewise, the mothers and those around must have been shocked when they heard that the only way to settle the dispute between the two professing mothers was to kill the innocent child caught in the middle (1st King 3:16-28). Jaw-dropping right? In addition, surely Moses must have scratched his head in disbelief when God instructed him to go tell the mighty Pharaoh to let his people go. He had a lot of “buts” to contradict, and even went as far as asking God to send someone else (Exodus 3:10-22 & 4:1-16).

They all just couldn’t comprehend the good that would come from God’s requests. Their faith was commendable, but even then, they had doubts and could not grasp any hope of a happy ending. However, the Bible explains in Isaiah 55:8 why this is so. It states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

God knew that He was testing Abraham’s trust, faith, and commitment to Him. He also knew that the experience would only serve to strengthen their relationship while preparing Abraham for greater challenges to come. Secondly, though no one else could make sense of cutting a baby in two, God knew that it was a smart way to eliminate the false mother. He not only speared the child’s life, but reunited him to his loving mother. Lastly, Moses might have thought God’s plan was bound to fail because he lacked self-confidence. He may have underestimated God’s capabilities. Nevertheless, God reassured him that He would go with him, perform signs and wonders, and give him the words to speak. God already knew that He’d make Moses successful in leading His people out of Egypt’s captivity….Moses didn’t.

Today, you might be experiencing similar disbelief. You might be asking, how can God ask me to walk out on the love of my life? He/she is definitely my soul mate. Nonsense! You may be thinking, give up my job? No way. It pays big bucks, plus I’m at the peak of my career. What good can come from doing that? Nonsense! Or like Moses you might be saying, me Lord? You want me to go into ministry? But I don’t even have a degree. I got a “C” in English, and I say “umm” a lot. Nonsense!

You know you’re hearing God’s voice; don’t try to deny or rationalize it. That tugging feeling in the core of your heart is not heartburn. God is imploring you with these words, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Friends just let go and follow God. His way may not seem to make sense right now, and you might not be able to identify the good that will come from His request. Nevertheless, proceed in faith. Let me leave you with this final verse of encouragement: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).