“My Friend, Have Faith, The Lord Will Provide!”

“My Friend, Have Faith, The Lord Will Provide!”
Dear friend, it is still “lock down” so be patient enough to read this long meditation. Thank you in advance.
My father had a terminal disease. AchaTugi hospital had a slow down progression treatment. He had to be there after every three months to buy drugs worth about three thousands francs. Life was hard with us. One time he had the money for the drugs but no transport. He asked me to trek with him through Bossa, Bome, Tuanyang and Tudig to Acha so he could buy his drugs.
As we trudged on our way, somewhere after Bome and before Tudig a man appeared from nowhere out of the bush holding a very sharp cutlass. I was scared especially when he asked in a harsh tone “Who are you and where are you from?” My father told him we were from Bali Kumbat. Then the man who must have known the map himself asked, “If you are from Bali Kumbat how come you are passing through this way.?” My father lied further that he passed through Bali Nyonga to greet a cousin and beg for assistance as he was travelling to Acha hospital. The man wished us a safe trip. I was relieved but was scared thereafter. I was only too happy when two days later after my dad had consulted and bought his drugs he told me we must return by main road, passing through Mbengwi, branch at Ngyenbo, then to Bali. That was a very long road, but safer.
When I asked my father why he lied to that father the other day, he told me he was afraid to lose his life and that of his heir apparent, an only son, and a child of his old age. He feared old animosities that could lead to his death and mine. He said even at his old age(78 years), he could tussle with the man and ask me to run for my life.
My father told a lie to save my life as a typical African. Genesis tells us the story of another old man with an only child of his old age who told a lie to the child when in truth he wanted to kill the child in obedience to God.
We find it hard to say Abraham was a wicked father who had no compunction in offering his son as a sacrifice in response to appease his God – which was a borrowed tradition from another religion. Or should we say it was Isaac who was stupid enough not to run for his life even when his sixth sense had warned him there was danger? He had wondered why there was wood for the sacrifice but not the sacrificial animal! His father told him a “Holy lie” that “God himself will provide.” It is true that the God finally provided a ram, but when Abraham told Isaac that the Lord will provide, deep in his heart he knew the Lord had already provided Isaac!
It is good that when parents want to use their children to satisfy their own egos they should also consider that the children have their own rights to life!
Through Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice Isaac God put a stop to an existing pagan practice where parents sacrificed their sons.
The lesson we learn from the story is that when you are determined to give all that you have to the Lord, he will appreciate your faith and trust; and provide an alternative.
My friend trust in the Lord to give your all because “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided”(Gen.22:1-14).
God himself did not spare his own Son. He gave him up for your sake. No sacrifice you make to him through service to others can be enough replacement for what he has done for you!
Prayer of the week: Thank you Father Almighty for even when we think all is lost, you always provide us with alternatives for our good. Amen!
Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!