Flight into Darkness (Flight Trilogy, Book 2) (29 page)
"
Yes
,
my
son
."
"
We
have
flint
and
wood
,
but
where's
the
sheep
for
the
burnt
offering
?"
Abraham
said
, "
Son
,
God
will
see
to
it
that
there's
a
sheep
for
the
burnt
offering
."
And
they
kept
on
walking
together
.
They
arrived
at
the
place
to
which
God
had
directed
him
.
Abraham
built
an
altar
.
He
laid
out
the
wood
.
Then
he
tied
up
Isaac
and
laid
him
on
the
wood
.
Abraham
reached
out
and
took
the
knife
to
kill
his
son
.
Just
then
an
angel
of
GOD
called
to
him
out
of
Heaven
, "
Abraham
!
Abraham
!"
"
Yes
,
I'm
listening
."
"
Don't
lay
a
hand
on
that
boy
!
Don't
touch
him
!
Now
I
know
how
fearlessly
you
fear
God
;
you
didn't
hesitate
to
place
your
son
,
your
dear
son
,
on
the
altar
for
me
."
Abraham
looked
up
.
He
saw
a
ram
caught
by
its
horns
in
the
thicket
.
Abraham
took
the
ram
and
sacrificed
it
as
a
burnt
offering
instead
of
his
son
. (Genesis 22:1-13 MSG)
Isaac was in his early teens when he headed out that morning with his father. There was no doubt he trusted and loved his father, just as Abraham loved his son—the heir for who’s birth he had waited so long and on who his promises from God depended.
On the third day, loaded down with wood and walking with his father toward
the
place
in
the
distance
, Isaac said, “We have flint and wood, but where's the sheep for the burnt offering?”
Putting myself in Abraham’s place, my heart sinks in despair as I contemplate how I might have answered my young son. Possibly: “Son, keep your eyes open. I’m sure a sheep will come along soon.” Or, “Son, there are times when we must step into the darkness and hope there will be solid ground beneath our foot.” Or, “Oh, I didn’t tell you? God wants me to use you as the sacrifice instead of a sheep.” Or, “No sheep? What was I thinking? I guess we’d better turn around and go home.”
But Abraham, without missing a step, continued toward
the
place
in
the
distance
as he replied to his son, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.”
I must remind myself that Abraham was just as human as I am today. He was fully aware of what God was asking him to do. To him it was—as it would have been to me—beyond logic and human reason. I know this because he left the house without telling Sarah (his wife) what he intended to do. Obviously, he felt it would be too much for her to understand.
Abraham’s unwavering faith was only possible because he believed and trusted that God had a plan, even up until the moment when it appeared that all hope was lost as he
reached
out
and
took
the
knife
to
kill
his
son
.
During the time I was writing
Flight
into
Darkness
(2006 to 2011), I experienced several dark episodes in my life, similar to those of the character, Ryan Mitchell. While in the midst of my darkness, I often felt like Job, who
hoped
for
good
but only
evil
came
; and for
light
, but found only
darkness
. (Job 30:26, NIV) Or like Isaiah, who uttered:
We
look
for
light
but
find
only
darkness
.
We
look
for
bright
skies
but
walk
in
gloom
.
We
grope
like
the
blind
along
a
wall
,
feeling
our
way
like
people
without
eyes
.
Even
at
brightest
noontime
,
we
stumble
as
though
it
were
dark
.
Among
the
living
,
we
are
like
the
dead
. (Isaiah 59:9-10, NLT)
When I reflect back and read my journal notes during that time—even the chapters in this novel—I see how the trials of my faith were not empty or meaningless. As a result of my dark years, I can now join with Ryan when he acknowledges in the last few lines of the story—
for
it
was
in
those
dark
hours
that
he
was
given
new
eyes
,
a
new
heart
,
and
a
renewed
faith
.
Most of us do not jump for joy at the thought of dark times or the prospect of brokenness, but instead, we naturally run in the opposite direction. However, God loves us so much that He doesn't let us get very far. The darkness is God's way of turning us around and forcing us to allow Him to do whatever is necessary in our lives to purge our souls and spirits so that we can have intimate fellowship with Him—the place of perfect peace—free from all fears and darkness.
* * *
Jesus said, “
I
am
the
light
of
the
world
,
whoever
follows
me
will
never
walk
in
darkness
,
but
will
have
the
light
of
life
.” John 8:12
FLIGHT TO FREEDOM
(Flight Trilogy – Book 3)
Three months have passed since
Darkness
traumatized the Mitchell family, May 29, 2003. In hopes of a new beginning—a new life—Ryan Mitchell quits his good-paying airline job, uproots his young family, and moves to Buckhead, Georgia from Southern California.
On moving day, Ryan reflects on the past twenty-nine years of his life—mostly the mistakes he wishes he could erase. He considers the impossible and asks Keri, “
If
you
could
live
your
life
over
,
what
would
you
do
differently
?”
Surprisingly, his far-fetched question is the harbinger of seven, life-altering scenarios that uncover a miracle.
In this unexpected, puzzling, yet satisfying conclusion to the
Flight
Trilogy
, readers are warned to buckle up and stay alert. Captain Ryan Mitchell is about to take you on the flight of your life—strange and mysterious, yet full of hope.
Copyright © 2011 Mike Coe
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Mike Coe. The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN-13: 978-0-61556-211-7
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
