Chasing Buzzards

There is a very interesting story in the 15th chapter of Genesis. It really doesn't get talked about much, but I have been thinking about it alot recently. In that chapter, Abraham has met with God, and he is offering Him a sacrifice. Abraham slaughters several animals and lays them out for the LORD. But it is verse eleven that really caught my attention. It says this: "And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away."

I find this interesting for two reasons.

First, is the fact that there are even vultures in this story. Why was God so slow in accepting this sacrifice? Why did He wait around so long that the buzzards got there before Him? Abram was acting in faith; he had brought this gift to the LORD, and God was doing nothing. Sometimes, when we act in obedience, it takes a while before we see God move. It isn't always an instantanious fire like with Elijah on Mt. Carmel. Sometimes it takes some time.

Second, is the action of Abram. He had already given these animals to God; if the vultures got them, what concern was that of his? Abram recognized that offering things to God often requires more than just laying them down at His feet. We can say we are surrendering to God, but what do we do after? Are we actively fighting to make sure that our lives are sacrficed to Him alone. When we give up to Him are we chasing away the buzzards that would devour our offerings?

See, the truth is, when we do surrender to God, we usually will let other things steal that offering from Him. We give Him our time, but we don't chase away things that steal it. We give Him our relationships, but we don't actively battle the things that destroy them. We give Him our lives, but we don't drive off the vultures that pick away at our souls. Maybe God hasn't moved as fast as we would like. Maybe we don't have a clue where He could be. But, through it all, we must remember that our offerings are for Him alone and drive away the buzzards that would steal them from Him.