Dad #2 (Aundre)

I have a great friend name Aundre. We played ball together "back in the day" and I enjoy being around him. He has got a big smile and laughs a lot. He got married young to an awesome girl. She is beautiful and they make a perfect couple. She has a genetic illness that makes pregnancy high risk but that did not stop them from beginning a family together. The first few months of her pregnancy were very tough. They came to me on numerous occasions requesting prayer as the doctors would weekly warn them against continuing on in the pregnancy. I watched Aundre through the months of pregnancy stand strong and boldly claim that their child would make it. For 7 months Aundre, his bride, and their baby fought against the odds until finally little Christian came into the world. He was 2 months early, but he made it. He was alive and so was his mommy. We praised God together. It was amazing to see Aundre with his son. He couldn't hold him to much because Christian was in a little incubator, but his daddy had his nose pressed up against the glass day in a day out for about 4 months. I will never forget the day I got the call from Aundre, I was in a meeting and did not answer it, but checked my voicemail at the first chance I had. Aundre's voice cracked, and I could hear him sniffling as I listened to the message. He broke down in the middle and all I could understand was that "Christian was gone"....... I rushed to the hospital and waited outside the ICU for a few minutes until Aundre came out. We spoke no words. He collapsed into my arms and we stayed there in the middle of the hallway for at least 5 minutes. People passed by, life went on for everybody else but for those moments time stood still for Aundre and his wife. I journeyed through the funeral and burial process with the family. It was extremely difficult listening to Aundre plead with God as he wished he could have taken Christian's place. I saw love displayed in such a deep way. I witnessed a father's love for his child. A child that was prayed for, promised, and delivered was now gone and Aundre would have done anything to have reversed it all, to rewind and somehow save his son...........

We see a father in Genesis 22 that also loves his son. His son Isaac was promised, prayed for, and delivered. God's promise to Abraham came to flesh when Isaac was born. Through Issac, God would fulfill his promise to make Abraham's descendants like the stars (Gen 15:1-6). We see Isaac born and begin to grow up. Imagine Abraham seeing his son every morning and praising God for the promise. Abrahan would probably chuckle watching his son try to crawl knowing that one day he would grow to be a man who would raise children himself. Abraham celebrated Issac first words, embracing him, for this young child would one day speak words of honor. Abraham would close his eyes at night and praise God for his promised son. One night was different though. In the silence, God broke through with a horrifying command. Take Isaac up to Moriah and sacrifice him there..............
WHAT?!!! God are you kidding me? This is my son, my promised son. How could you do this? How could you take from me what you promised. How could you force me to kill me own son. To minimize his value to that of a heifer or a goat. No God, never, I will not! He is mine, I conceived him, I have raised him. He is mine..............

I could write for days my reaction to God's command to Abraham. You see, I have a son myself and the thought of him being harmed at all makes my stomach turn. He is my only son. In him I see innocence, love, and unlimited potential. I see a future for my family, for my name, for my legacy. You see I am no different than Abraham except for one small minor detail of the story........... Abraham obeyed God. He rose early in the morning with his son, two servants, and a donkey to set out to do the unthinkable because He believed God; and when God spoke he obeyed. You see Abraham's relationship with God went beyond mere belief and into an active faith.

If you don't know the story check out tomorrow's blog. We will discuss the 3 day journey to Moriah.