Father Abraham

Just when I thought I couldn’t love this album any more than I already did, he went and re-recorded it all fresh and new with happy surprises around every corner.

And guys. I just love it. I love it because it tells the ancient Story. This isn’t just any story. And it’s not even merely the most beautiful Story of all time. More than that, it’s true. But even that isn’t all. I was struck today by the fact that this is MY Story. This is the story of my ancestors. This is my family history. These are my people.

I didn’t realize till I was in my 20s what people were talking about in the kids song “Father Abraham.” ... “What do you I’m one of his sons?! I don’t even know Abraham; what a silly song.” The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is MY God. The God of Jesse and of David. The God of Mary and Joseph. This is my God. He’s the God who is there. And he is asking us to surrender to Him.

Noah. Abraham. Moses. Joshua. David. Mary. What do these people have in common? They submitted themselves to the God who is there. God asked for their obedience and they took steps forward in faith even when they couldn’t see ahead. And the world is blessed by their obedience.

What does this have to do with the fact that I have not had had a chance yet to fix or even clean up the broken kitchen chair? Or the eight loads of laundry I have yet to fold? Or my current view as I type: a nursing infant with a backdrop of piles of gifts to be wrapped, diapers to be thrown away, clothes to be washed, and ripped kids’ books to be repaired?

Everything. Abraham and Moses and Mary have everything to do with my laundry. This is the great cloud of witnesses. The God of my fathers is my God too. If He strengthened them for their journeys, he will strengthen me for mine. Because He promised He would and He’s never broken a promise.

Baby steps of obedience, guys. One step at a time.