Abraham had been quite pleased after Isaac took Rebekah.  In recent days Abraham had begun settling in and slowing down. He was still the same man who had a spring in his step, but I believe he knew his part in the story was closing.

After a little time passed Abraham did re-marry.  Keturah was her name.  I never got to know her well.

It wasn’t anything personal.  I wasn’t disliked, and it wasn’t that I had anything against Keturah.  She just wasn’t Sarah.  I think in many ways Abraham was lonely, and personally, I believe that is why he married again.

Abraham’s Last Conversation

Through the early years of Isaac being married I found myself serving both him and his father.  There were periods where they were together.  Then there were other periods where Isaac would be off building and expanding influence.

It was on one of these times where Isaac was gone that Abraham sent word to me.  He wanted to meet and discuss some business, or that is what the note said.  I was invited to eat with him that evening.

After finishing work I cleaned and prepared myself to relax with Abraham a little.  Making my way to his tent I found it deserted when I walked inside.  It was a meeting of just him and me.

“Hello Clay, come and sit. The food is prepared and ready!” He said.

I walked over to the seat beside him and sat.  He thanked God for the blessings given to him and his son, prayed for protection, and then we began to eat.  After a little small talk, the real discussion would begin.

“Do you remember when I first met you?” Abraham asked.
“Of course.  Shem had to weave both of us together in his little way.” I replied laughing a bit.
“Yes, and he had to convince you to go with me to Ur.” He said while looking in my eyes.

I had a feeling of where this was going.  One part I hated about what I was being forced to live through is watching my friends die.  Meanwhile here I am the same now as I was with Noah.  Lost, alone, and with no idea why I am here other than my children’s prayers.

“Do you remember the day I almost sacrificed Isaac?” He asked while smiling.
“Yes, how could I forget.  It took Sarah months to get over that.”
“It did, but she came to understand why it was necessary to be willing.” He replied.

Abraham took a pause.  He sipped his drink and was deep in thought.  I knew what he would ask, and I was willing.  I also knew that wasn’t the only reason why I was here.

“Clay, I hope it is not too much of me to ask you to continue on with Isaac after I am gone.” He requested.

“You know I will.  He’s a good man.  Rebekah is too good for him, but he is a good man.” I said laughing.

“I would like for you to also watch over Jacob and Esau. I sense a tension between those two. From the moment they were born it appears they were struggling for who would be first.” Abraham stated.

“They are brothers Abraham. They are also young. There will be some tension but I believe they will be fine. Still, I will watch them as long as I am needed.” I assured Abraham.

Abraham’s Dream

The easy talk was out of the way.  He was still pausing.  I appreciated how direct he always was. It took some moments of him trying to form his words this time. It made me wonder what this new topic was.

“I had a dream.  I do not know how to describe what I saw.  I believe it was your world.” He paused and then stopped as if not knowing what to say.

“Abraham, what do you mean you dreamed of my world?  What did you see?” I asked.
“As I said I do not know how to describe it.  I simply know your story is not yet finished.” He said.

Leaning back into his chair he continued.  “The day Sodom was destroyed, I saw you in the trees.  I could not help you, but I knew you would be okay.  Something happened there you have not discussed.”  Abraham was in tune with something.

“I met the same man you were talking to.  The one you call Lord.  He came to me, and I asked him why I was here.  He said it was due to the pleas of my daughters requests in their prayers.” I replied.

“I saw them, Noelle and Kate.  They are praying for you in my dream.” Abraham said flatly.
“You saw them? Where were they?  When in time?” I began to rapid fire questions, but he cut me short.

“Clay, there is no way for me to fully describe what I saw.  Everything was foreign to me.  It was for a moment.  I do not believe that your story is finished here, nor is it finished there.” Abraham was being serious.

“Tell me more of what the Lord said to you as you sat outside of Sodom.  What were your girls asking for?” Abraham inquired.
“The one you call Lord said that they asked Him to do whatever it took to save me.” I replied.

“So what is it that keeps you from allowing this to happen?” Abraham was digging.
“How am I supposed to know?” I countered.
“I believe you know Clay.  It is about more than merely being stubborn.” He replied.
“Then if you know, tell me.” I said.

A Matter Of Trust

“It is a matter of trust.  You do not trust anything.  Always second guessing, always fearing, always calculating, you look at life without any trust.  Spiritually the equivalent would be compared to faith.  A man who cannot know trust cannot know faith.” He said.

“They are basically the same.” I pointed out.

“No, they are different.  Trust is required in things we can see, number, and test.  Faith is in what we cannot see or know with our eyes or hands.  What took place in your life to break your trust in all that is around you?” Abraham asked.

I sat there for a moment thinking.  The moment he asked the question my mind went back to my father.  It also went to my mother.

“My dad left when I was a child.  My mom had to struggle to survive.  While I had no relationship with dad, mom also never took time to know me.  She did although take every opportunity to preach at me and take me to church.” I began sharing these deeper emotions.

“She was always trying to hard to know God.  She would read the bible, pray, be at church, and involved in every activity, but I was a stranger to her.”  I said.

“After this you became angry?” Abraham asked.

“Yes, I did.  I decided to never go to church again once I left home.  I said that if this was the kind of God that people follow I want nothing to do with it.” I replied.

“Clay, surely with all you have lived through now you can realize that people make their own choices.  The choices they make do not always reflect who God is.  In fact, the choices made are often contrary to Him.” Abraham countered.

“You said that your mother was struggling to survive.  Her actions towards God when compared to her lack of relationship with you, sounds like religious striving.  She may have truly believed, but she was attempting to earn favor, perhaps feel self-worth, and unfortunately was caught up in her struggles rather than yours.” Abraham explained.

“I see your point Abraham, truly I do.  I understand this now after having my own family and turning into the same person except without religion.  I too abandoned my children physically and emotionally.  I was not there even when I was there.” I admitted.

“Then why be angry at God about the past?  Would it rather be the choices of people?” Abraham contended.

“As I said, I see your point Abraham.  It still doesn’t answer the question of, where is God?” I said.

God’s Patience In Waiting

Leaning forward Abraham began to eat a sweet cake.  He sat staring at the table.  Once finished he took a sip of his drink.  I had also finished eating and was now a bit frustrated.

While in the turn of these emotions, I thought the conversation ended.  I began to lead forward to get up.

“There it is.” Abraham said.
“What are you talking about?” I asked as I sat back down.
“God is waiting on you to trust Him. He must sit silently and patiently waiting on you to make the right move towards him, but you decide to get up and go your own way.” He replied.

He leaned back into his chair and was now looking at me in the eyes.  I knew I had issues with trust.  He exposed this well enough.

“You are your own worst enemy Clay.  To know God requires you recognize your broken state and to then place your faith and trust in Him.  To do this you must surrender totally to Him, accepting Him, having a relationship with Him.” Abraham said.

“As I said, your story here is not yet finished.  Thank you for being with me through these years.  Also, thank you for being here for Isaac in the future.” Abraham smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder.

That evening concluded with more small talk.  After that last meal with Abraham, I would go back to my tent and sleep.  The next morning I would wake and I would learn that Abraham died that night in his sleep.

Abraham Is Buried At Machpelah

We would travel back to Machpelah to burry Abraham where Sarah was also buried.  At the funeral Isaac would of course be there.  Word had been sent to Ishmael and he also came to say goodbye to his father.  This would be the last time that I saw Isaac and Ishmael together.

After so much struggle I was happy that Abraham not only had Isaac, but he also was able to experience life with his two grandsons. They were young still not yet forty years of age. Just being kids I am sure Abraham’s fears would not come to pass, or at least I hoped.

The death of Abraham would upset the order of some things within the region, but God would protect Isaac.  Soon after his death, the wells which Abraham had dug were filled by the Philistines as an act of defiance.

Isaac would handle these tests well.  He had stayed by his fathers side learning from him.  I would see the kind of influence a good father and its impact had upon a child.  The choices Isaac would make would be dictated by wisdom.

The course of events in the near future would cause me to reflect upon my last conversation with Abraham.  Just as the actions of a father can influence a child for the good, it can also cause a child to wander in the world.

Likewise, I saw in Isaac the influence of his mother.  I know my mother loved me while I would often question my father’s love.  Still, as Abraham put it, my mother’s religious striving lacked the authenticity which Sarah held.  This too I would reflect on and its influence upon my life.

There is no doubt that my life choices were my choices, and my responsibility.  We can only spend so much time blaming the past.  Abraham was trying to help me to simply understand the trajectory of that past does not need to continue into the future.

My problem was just as he said.  I am my own worst enemy.

Standing by the tomb of Abraham I said my final goodbye to him.  I gave Ishmael a big hug.  It had been so long since I had seen him.  I told him to love his brother because that’s the only family he has left.

After that day I would remain with Isaac for some time. That is, until a detour to my life would once again come I did not expect.