ALMIGHTY vs ABRAHAM

  “I disguised myself as this Almighty and put before them a series of tests that would prove this, a fool’s dream.  First I told Abraham for him and his people to become the father of many nations they must prove their devotion.  All who claim to believe in the One True God must sacrifice a piece of themselves, from a place most painful and this will mark them as the chosen.  To my surprise they did this and I became mad but far from convinced.
   
" It will have to be Abraham’s choice and only his to put an end to this thought of One True God.  Abraham had all that man could want except a child from his wife.  He had a son from a slave that he loved, but it was not the same.  I told Abraham that I would give him a man-child from his wife as reward for his devotion to the One True God.  This child gave all great joy, especially Abraham.  The child was proof that Abraham was the Prophet of the Almighty.
   
"Through the dreams of his wife I told her to be afraid of Abraham’s first son from her slave for he will be jealous and kill her miracle child.  Her natural instinct as a mother to protect her pup did the rest.  She went to Abraham and demanded that he send his son and his slave mother into the desert.  At first Abraham refused for he loved the child and knew that alone in the desert they would both die. I told him not to worry the boy and his mother would not perish.  Not only would he live he would become the father of many nations.  With this knowledge Abraham sent them away and gave his full heart to the miracle child.  As the years passed the child became all that his father and mother could dream.
 
  "The time had come, his love for the child was complete.  First I told him all the things that I was going to do for him and his people to reward them.  I told him all the things I had done for them already.  I let them prosper and their nation grew.  I gave them victory over their enemies.  All I asked in return was their continued devotion and a sacrifice to prove that they were truly worthy.
 
  "When I told him I wanted his son I could hear his heart break.  He never even tried to bargain.  I will never forget the look in that old mans eyes, it showed that this test would reveal the truth.  He gathered what he would need, grabbed his young son’s hand and off toward the mountain they went.  His wife did not ask where they were going for her child was in the hand of the Prophet. In order for this test to lead to proof, I must put some opportunity in between.
   
"I went to his wife and told her that Abraham was taking her child to the mountain to sacrifice as proof of his devotion to me the One True God.  It caught me off guard when she fell to her knees and said if it be God’s will; so it will happen. Then she fell to the ground and screamed the cry that can only come from a mother’s broken heart.
 
" All the way up the mountain the boy asked his father where they were going.  Abraham tried to comfort the boy by telling him they were going to prove their devotion to the One True God.  The boy asked his father why they had incense, the sacrificial knife, and all that was needed to build an alter, but no ram.  What can we offer the One True God as we ask for his blessing?  Abraham told the boy that God will provide.  I told the boy the truth and again I did not understand when the boy said If God demands my life I will lay myself upon the alter.
   
"This test was turning into something completely different than what I expected.  Abraham and his son did not speak as they built the alter together.  The boy’s fear made him weak and Abraham helped his son onto the sacrificial stone and tied him down.  Abraham placed his hand upon his beloved son’s forehead and raised the other with the knife high above his head.  He told his son that he loved him and the boy told his father that it is God’s will, Do it.
   
"I could not believe what was about to take place.  This devotion might be more than the foolish dream.  Then just as I might have seen the light something happened that would keep me in darkness.  Abraham hears a noise and went to investigate.  He found a ram whose horns were entangled in a bush.  He frees the ram and takes it to the alter; untied his son from the stone and sacrifices the ram instead.  With this proof I lost interest.  For years they prospered and then I let the Egyptians enslave them.”