Genesis 18-23

I am going to skip Lot for now.  I want to talk some more about Abraham.  I've been thinking about Abraham a lot lately.  WARNING--this is just a whole lot of me thinking.  So, take it for what it is worth.

We read in the Pearl of Great Price about an experience that he had in Ur.  As I mentioned before, we aren't sure how old Abraham was when his father attempted to offer him as a sacrifice to heathen gods.  Regardless of his age, I am confident that this was an experience that Abraham would never forget.  We have probably all had experiences in life that are permanently etched in our memories.  They might be traumatic, they might be joyous or otherwise.  We can see the experience in our mind's eye vividly with precise details--we can hear the noises and smell the smells.  So, what do you think Abraham remembers from his unbelievable experience?  What sights, sounds, feelings, etc would he take with him for the rest of his life?  What lessons were permanently and indelibly etched in his mind and soul?  This is obviously a question to ask Abraham himself.  But, from his record, I think we could assume some basic things that Abraham might have learned.

*God is powerful.
*Sometimes God intervenes and sometimes He does not.
(remember that Abraham witnessed the sacrifice of 3 righteous virgins)
*God answers prayers.
*There is great power in the priesthood.
*God fulfills His promises.
*Through Christ we are saved.

I also think that Abraham might have taken from this experience some pretty powerful spiritual feelings or memories.  I am pretty sure that Abraham knew what it felt like to be in the presence of "evil".  And in contrast, I am pretty confident that he knew how to recognize feelings and promptings that come from God.

So, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, I think that all of these memories and lessons resurfaced in a very powerful way.  How were the experiences similar?  How were they different?  Why would Abraham obey immediately (the very next morning in fact) and not need any time to process what was going on?  I think it's because despite the memory of all of the horror of that experience when he was young.  Abraham knew the Lord.  He knew that this commandment came from the Lord.  He could feel the difference.  God would definitely fulfill the promises that He had made to Abraham of this he was certain.

Such amazing faith and obedience!