Abraham Isaac

I know.

It’s not an easy image to look at, and perhaps a harsh way to begin a new decade, but with all the “GO FOR IT” “PUMPED FOR 2020” “CHARGING INTO 2020 LIKE...” messages & memes littering social media, as I sat to ponder the last decade this strange, savage story kept coming to mind. 

This painting by Rembrandt resides in the Hermitage St Petersburg and it portrays Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, found in the Torah, chapter 22 of the ancient book of Genesis. 

It’s the laying down of the dream. 
The surrender of your deepest desire. 
The willingness to let go of that which you’ve fought for, believed for, agonised over, bled over.
Can you lay it down, offer it up... or does IT define YOU? 

Abraham’s willingness to lay down his own son, and thereby prove his obedience and faith in God’s promise was the great test that prepared him to be a Father of Nations.

This is next-level stuff. It’s the narrow road, it’s so damn hard, especially as we are led to believe it’s all down to us, and deep down we fear no one else has our back. 

But is that really true? 

This is a new decade and it requires a new narrative. A larger story where vanity, fame, wealth & glory aren’t what we are doing this for. That’s too shallow and too small. I’m bored of it. 

I’ve spent the last decade fighting, wrestling my-own-will be done, and I’ve poured out every last drop of energy into making my-thing happen.

So 2020, I choose to tap-out of that old fight. 
I need a bigger story. 

Jan 1st, day one of a new decade and I hear the terrifying whisper and invitation of God to ‘Lay it all down.’ It’s such a hard lens to look through, but what if, to get to the real promise we have to surrender our own version of it? 

What if there is no resurrection without a death?

A sobering New Year post, but I felt it was important to ask myself some harder questions, and I know that other people out there might also be facing a similar call and need reminding of this old tale. 

Finally thank you to EVERYONE who has supported, encouraged, followed and stood by me over the last decade.

May this decade transcend the last. 

Mark Evans
January 2020
London