Fail The Test

I dreamed that I was Abraham
And heard my God’s request
To sacrifice my only son
To prove that I was blest.
To prove I put obedience
Ahead of what I feel,
It was the worst of nightmares, but
It seemed so very real.

I said to God I can not do
The thing that He requires.
I love my son too much for that,
I’d rather face the fires.
I’d rather God would take my life
Than make me kill my child
For morbid curiosity.
I’ll stay unreconciled.

I fail the test of faith in God,
But what about His love?
A test like this seems far too odd
To come from up above.
So there are things I put before
Religion’s strange demands,
Though some will get real mad at me
I think God understands.

Is this a test that God would give?
And did I really fail?
I think my son’s supposed to live
And I won’t go to jail.
Perhaps it was not faith at all
This test would show at last,
But if I really love my son,
If so I guess I passed.

John H. Bidwell