It was September 12, 2016 and I was scrolling through Facebook. I came across an article a friend posted about this being the day in history when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. I couldn’t believe that my ice baby anniversary might potentially correspond with this very personal and relevant Bible event!

Before we get too far… DISCLAIMER DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ ON FACEBOOK, always check for accuracy.

Abraham lived over 4,000 years ago. The story of this a man of great faith, spans several chapters in Genesis. The almost sacrifice portion is found in chapter 22. I read this chapter to see what details I could find to pin point September 12^th as THE day of this famous almost sacrifice. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find any Bible hints in the text that supported this event coinciding with my Ice Baby anniversary. 

Mamas, can you imagine God promising you a baby, and then waiting 25 years for that promise to be fulfilled? Can you image having a baby at 90 years old? Yes, mamas for those of you doing quick math, God told Abraham he would have a baby when his barren wife was 65 years old!  Despite both of them laughing when they heard this news, (This really did happen!  See Genesis 17:17-18 & Genesis 18:12) at 100 years old, Abraham became father to Isaac. God has a sense of humor. Do you want proof? Look up the meaning of the name Isaac. Okay fine, I will tell you: “the one who laughs”!

Truth be told, this event has always baffled me. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. Try to imagine the absolute trust Abraham had to both: know he heard God’s request correctly, and to act on God’s command. This event made much more sense when I understood that Abraham had a plan B.  This statement is not meant to take away from the awe-inspiring faith and obedience that Abraham demonstrated. But the book of Hebrews gives us a glimpse into Abraham thoughts, and WHY he was able to fully commit to God’s unfathomable request.

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“It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, ’Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.” Hebrews 11: 17-19

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This verse, more than any other verse, humanizes Abraham.  It’s easy to think of the Old Testament figures as super heroes, but they weren’t. They were human; flesh and bone, with doubt and worry JUST LIKE US. 

Abraham had absolute faith in God and he obeyed, KNOWING God’s ability to ‘make it right’. How many times is my faith backwards? I constantly analyze what God is asking me to do; then in my own humanness I try to figure out why God is asking me to do this. I doubt God’s reason and logic, and trust my own. How foolish am I?

Even though Abraham isn’t a super hero. I still aspire to be as quick to obey when God calls me. That I may say yes first, having the FAITH to know there is a ‘Plan B’ explanation.

I may not have uncovered Abraham and myself sharing a significant anniversary. But God did give me a treasure, hidden in the footnote of my study Bible, my very own ice baby message:

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“It is difficult to let go of what we deeply love. What could be more proper than to love your only child? Yet when we do give to God what He asks, He returns to us far more than we could dream.”

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This year marks a decade since we lost our last baby, and I can tell you this; I would not change my ice baby story, or the outcome. (You may not have gotten that same answer from me if you asked me years earlier). Mamas, me saying this does not mean I am happy with my outcome. It means I know all things are under God’s control, He has a reason for everything, and I have to let that alone be sufficient.

God is still revealing my Plan B to me.  Mamas, want to wait with me and see our Plan B’s unfold together?