(How could Isaac have respected and obeyed his father like he did?)

Isaac might have thought, _“How could I have listened to my father telling me to “climb” the altar, only for me to be bound and about to be killed? That is way too much. I mean, I respect and obey my parents, but not to the point of death. Not to the point of seeing myself, and allowing myself to be bound and killed like a sheep, for whatever sacrifice. Come on, who does that?”

Abraham might have thought, _“Hmmm…How could Isaac have listened to me and allowed himself to be sacrificed on the altar like an animal; without complaining, but only complying? Even me, his father found it difficult when God told me to sacrifice him. But how could he comply like that without complaining? I am amazed. Was it courage, strength or rebellion? I just don’t know.”

Unlike Abraham, we know why Isaac allowed himself to be “used” as a sacrifice like that: Isaac trusted and obeyed his father, Abraham.

How many of us parents today can have our children trust us with their lives to the extent of ‘death’ like Isaac did with Abraham? A few of us right? Why? Is it because our children are very disobedient? What could be the reason? Why can’t our children go to that extent of trust and obedience for us like Isaac did with Abraham?

The reason is not because of our children. Rather, it is because of us, their parents.  We are not trustworthy enough; we say something today, and change our minds the next day: so confusing. We don’t consistently hear from God. We only hear from God once every week, on Sundays through our pastors when we go to church. We don’t hear from God for ourselves. Apart from those Sundays at church, most of us parents don’t hear from God, or aren’t led by the Holy Spirit in our daily activities. Why is this? “We are not pastors or prophets like Abraham, how do you expect us to be like Abraham, when we are clearly not like Abraham?” You may say.

Parents, our parents, please, you need not be like Abraham before you can have your child act like Isaac towards you. You needn’t be a prophet either. All you need is to be in tune with God constantly. What kind of Father would God be if he doesn’t speak with all of his children, except those in positions as pastors, and prophets? No matter who you are as a parent, if you have given your life to Christ, you are saved and now a child of God. And as a child of the Most High God, your Heavenly father can speak to you every hour of the day through the Holy Spirit who is in you.

“If this is true, how come I don’t hear Him?” It is because you have not turned your spiritual antenna properly to his station in Heaven.

“How do I do that?”

Speak. Speak to him. You are already born again. And as a born again child of God, you ought to speak in faith to God. Speak to him; tell him you have made yourself available, and in fact, if there is any hindrance preventing you from hearing him, he should take it away with his mighty power, because you are all ready to hear from him, and that you really want to hear him, Now. Tell him to speak to you, whether through dreams, visions, trance, or any means. And once you’ve said that, pray and read the bible often. You would notice that, your thoughts and decisions would start to change gradually [Roman 12:2]:They will begin to conform to the will/Word of God. This is the first stage though.

With time, patience, and practice you would begin to see and operate in different realms of the Spirit. Then, you would begin to know how to speak to your children in love, and direct them in Christ. Should they go contrary to you, don’t worry, don’t give up; just whisper a prayer to your lover, God. Tell him to be with your child wherever he goes, and that he should guide, and protect him, and reveal Himself to him in his own time. After a while, with love and patience, you would have your child turn into an ‘Isaac’. This doesn’t mean you ought to change your child’s names to Isaac. Hahaha… Yeah.

Should we all be able to get to this level with God, and our children, we would have the best of children: children who aren’t lost in life; children who get to have a sense of direction with wisdom. Also, should they be faced with a major decision in their lives and they are confused, they know they can fall on us, their parents to guide them. Not that they are stupid or can’t also hear from God. But rather, they will gain from our years of experience with God. Just like Abraham did with Isaac, even in the area of his marriage.

Else, our children’s inexperienced minds would lead them astray, like the prodigal son. Is this what we want? Not at all.

The LORD be with all parents. You are really doing a great job with us. God bless you all.

Amen.