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9. God's speeches to
Abraham.
God also spoke to the
pious Abraham at other times. Once he said to him: ‘Fear not, Abraham. I
am your shield and your great reward.’ This is a rich treasure for pious
hearts, even for troubled hearts, if they are pious, that God wants to
be their reward. This is more than the thanks and reward of men, more
than the earth has and can give. Lord, if I have only you, I ask nothing
for heaven and earth; and though my body and soul languish, you, O God,
are always my heart's comfort and my portion.
Another time he said to him: ‘I am the Almighty God; walk before me and
be pious!’ God says the same thing to all people who read and hear it,
especially to children. For he is not only an almighty God to Abraham,
but to all people. Now then, because we have the works of divine
omnipotence before our eyes everywhere, the flowers, the ears of corn,
the tree, the sun, the moon, the stars, let us often think of his
presence and open our hearts to his admonition: ‘Walk before me and be
pious!’ Such little sayings, if we think of them often and follow them,
are like shining stars with which we stay on the right path and come to
God. Your word, O God, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Once again, God wanted to put Abraham's trust and obedience to the test,
to see if he would be able to give his favourite, best and only son,
Jsaac, back to God. Yes, Abraham's obedience and trust were able to do
that. He would have done it; he would have sacrificed him without
grumbling and without objection. This pious devotion pleased God and he
confirmed his promise to Abraham: ‘Through your descendants all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed.’
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