God's Tests
God gives us tests all of the time. Some are quizzes, and some are major exams. Abraham was tested beyond what most of us will ever experience, when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise. However, Abraham passed the test with flying colors, because he was sure that God would provide, even though he did not know how God was going to do that.(Genesis 22:8) Abraham had faith, and that is what it takes to pass the tests of life. Let's see what else we can learn from this story.
God told Abraham exactly what to do and where to go. The test was very specific. God does not try to trick us. We know what He desires for us to do. The test is whether we will follow His instructions or change them. We fail if we rationalize or doubt Him, so that we do not obey exactly what He told us. Notice what Abraham told the servants when he left them with the donkey, "We will come back to you." I believe he thought he would have to kill his son, but that God would raise him from the dead, like it says in Hebrews. However, Abraham was confident that God had a plan, and He would provide ":for Himself" a lamb. After all, God had called him to worship Him through this sacrifice, so the death of his son would be done in worship. I believe that tells us that God must come first before our children. When God gives us a command in His Word or speaks to us, we must not fail to obey Him because of our children or anyone else.
The big thing was how hard it must have been to answer Isaac when he asked about the lamb to sacrifice and to walk with him up the mountain thinking about what was about to happen. I can't imagine doing that with one of my children. However, God was only asking Abraham to do what He was going to do for us centuries later. God was willing to send His Only-Begotten Son to die for us. He knew from eternity that He was going to have to do that because of the sins of mankind. He knew it as He walked with Christ through His time on earth and as He carried His cross to Golgotha. God did not change His plan, because of His love for us. Abraham did not change God's instructions, because of His love for God and His trust in His provision. Remember, God never asks us to do anything He is not willing to do for us or has not done for us.
I pray that we will have the faith of Abraham to listen to God and obey Him completely out of love. Passing the tests of life leads to great blessings from the Lord,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 24-26.
God told Abraham exactly what to do and where to go. The test was very specific. God does not try to trick us. We know what He desires for us to do. The test is whether we will follow His instructions or change them. We fail if we rationalize or doubt Him, so that we do not obey exactly what He told us. Notice what Abraham told the servants when he left them with the donkey, "We will come back to you." I believe he thought he would have to kill his son, but that God would raise him from the dead, like it says in Hebrews. However, Abraham was confident that God had a plan, and He would provide ":for Himself" a lamb. After all, God had called him to worship Him through this sacrifice, so the death of his son would be done in worship. I believe that tells us that God must come first before our children. When God gives us a command in His Word or speaks to us, we must not fail to obey Him because of our children or anyone else.
The big thing was how hard it must have been to answer Isaac when he asked about the lamb to sacrifice and to walk with him up the mountain thinking about what was about to happen. I can't imagine doing that with one of my children. However, God was only asking Abraham to do what He was going to do for us centuries later. God was willing to send His Only-Begotten Son to die for us. He knew from eternity that He was going to have to do that because of the sins of mankind. He knew it as He walked with Christ through His time on earth and as He carried His cross to Golgotha. God did not change His plan, because of His love for us. Abraham did not change God's instructions, because of His love for God and His trust in His provision. Remember, God never asks us to do anything He is not willing to do for us or has not done for us.
I pray that we will have the faith of Abraham to listen to God and obey Him completely out of love. Passing the tests of life leads to great blessings from the Lord,
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 24-26.