Today on the podcast I’m thrilled to introduce you to writer/director David Helling. David wrote and directed the recently released to theaters movie His Only Son. We had a great conversation about his journey into film making and I asked why he wanted to share this story of when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, David said when he lived in San Fransisco while attending film school, time and time again this story would be a point of contention. Not only did he see non-believers have an issue with this passage, but he also saw believers not knowing how to answer it. The movie beautifully shares Abraham and Sara’s struggle through the years of longing for a son as Abraham and Isaac make the three-day journey to Mount Moriah. His only Son received a 72% rating from the Angel Guild– the group of over 64,000 Angel Studio crowd funders who review and greenlight creator projects. This is one of the highest scores ever given.
David is a U.S. Marine corp. veteran whose time in the deserts of Iraq was the impetus for the film. He shares in this interview how he’d have to spend nights in the desert near where the biblical story of Daniel took place and the effect that had on him and his relationship with God and His word. I found David to be a genuine person who loves the Lord and wants to lead others to read and study the scriptures for themselves, so they’ll grow in their relationship with Christ too. I know you’re going to enjoy getting to know the man behind the movie.
Quotes From David
“I didn’t get into film to be a film maker. I got into film to be a biblical film maker.”
“Not only did I see non-believers have an issue with this passage, but I saw believers not knowing how to give an answer regarding this passage.”
“Even if I don’t understand it, it’s good, because I know that it’s good because God is good, He is just, He is holy, He is loving, altogether unchanging.”
“We can see all the events of the Old Testament through the lens of the cross. We can have confidence in the Lord and His sovereign hand.”
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, of knowledge, of understanding.” (from Proverbs 9:10)
“This is just a tool to lead you back to the word and lead others to the word for the first time.”
Resources
The Movie is taken from Genesis chapters 12-22
David Helling’s YouTube channel
Listen to From Marine to Movie Maker: The Journey to Creating the Movie, His Only Son with David Helling
Find out more and register for Operation Restoration Retreat at The Cove