Is there a Ram? November 17, 2015

¹⁵ And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven ¹⁶ and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, ¹⁸ and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Much has been written about this episode from Abraham's life.  God instructed Abraham  “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2 ESV)  Yet God had previously promised Abraham a great nation would arise through Isaac and "through Isaac shall your offspring be named." (Genesis 21:12 ESV)  

We all have an Isaac. Something in our lives that we hold near and dear that perhaps God will ask us to give up for Him.  My Isaac is my career as an elementary principal.  For years that has defined me.  Former students see me on the street and the greeting is, "Mr. Martin."  Parents of current and former students offer the same greeting, "Mr. Martin."  7 a.m.-6 p.m. most days.  Weekend time devoted to professional reading.  Evenings spent at extracurricular events.  Hugs from kids.  Questions from teachers.  Concerns from parents.  For the past 30 years pubic school has been my career, my life, my Isaac.

Now I am in a season where God may be asking me to place my personal Isaac on the alter of retirement.  I struggle with how to determine between the voice of God and my own worldly weariness.  How do I know, that I know, that I know when God is speaking on life-changing, can't-be-undone types of decisions?  Are my thought of retirement sparked by Kristi's imminent retirement or by that Still Small Voice?  It is the difficult year driving these thoughts or the Holy Spirit?

I have said that I won't retire "from" administration, but will retire "to" something else.  Right now that something else is not there.  But when Isaac raised that knife, there was not a replacement sacrifice available.  It was not until Isaac was on almost at the point of no return did God reveal the His full plan which did not involved the sacrifice of Isaac.

There are times we are instructed to step out more in faith than others.  In certain situations God's whole plan for a situation may be revealed.  Other times until step one is taken, step two won't be revealed.  I am at a crossroads where if I take step one, I cannot untake that step and the repercussions will be long-reaching.  How to I know when it is time to place "Isaac" on the alter realizing there may not be a ram in a thicket?