A Ram in the Bush

Who doesn’t know the Biblical story of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac? After all, God told Abraham he was going to be the father of many nations, then years later, God tested Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. If that was me, I would have tried to re-negotiate with God about the test, but Abraham not only had faith, but really loved God.

God opened my eyes to experience Genesis 22:13:
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

A few weeks ago, I was in Indianapolis for the 40th Indiana Black Expo. The Church of God in Christ was having a regional convention at the Sheraton Hotel where my husband and I were staying. In order to get free Wi-Fi, hotel guests had to use their laptops in the lobby. One night, we went downstairs so that I could use my computer just as one of their evening services was about to get underway.

My husband said, “Hey, they’re singing one of the songs you like.”
I didn’t recognize the song, but that didn’t stop me from being nosy. We made our way to the lower level where the service was being conducted. I decided to stay, so I took a seat in the back row. As the evangelist preached, she walked the aisles and randomly prayed for people. I thought to myself, I wish God would direct her to come and pray for me. I never turn down prayer.

Eventually, as the service came to a close, it was offering time. All I had in my pocket was my room key. Not far from behind my seat, a shiny new quarter laid on the carpet.
The offertory was practically over and I missed out. Again I glanced at the floor. I heard the Lord telling me that the quarter was my offering—what? A quarter was MY ram in the bush.

I thought to myself, “I’m not taking a quarter to put in the offering.” I mean, come on, a quarter? I pay my tithes and give dollars in offerings, but a quarter? No way.

It was my test whether I decided to be humble, or not, to take it. God was teaching me an offering isn’t about the amount of money. God was showing me He would accept $.25 as my offering, SO I swiped up the quarter and walked boldly to the front with my quarter offering. The deacons were about to walk away, but when one saw me, he turned around. He held out an empty deep white bucket, and I dropped my coin into it. As I turned to go back in my seat, the speaker had the ministers get my attention. She beckoned for me to come to the bottom of the stage where she stood waiting for me. Grasping my hand, she prayed financial and other blessings for me. The anointing fell on my spirit and I was praising God as I spoke in other tongues.

What I learned is to look for the ram in the bush. Who knows, how small your blessings may seem. It’s all in the sacrifice.