Genesis 22:2- Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about”……(NIV)
Abraham and his wife Sarah longed to have a child together, finally when Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham 100 years old, she gave birth to a son and they named him Isaac. Now God is instructing Abraham to kill Isaac. (If you have not read this story in its entirety, I would strongly encourage you to read chapter 22 of Genesis.)
This is one of the most touching stories in the bible for me, it brings tears to my eyes every time read this chapter. I put myself in Abraham’s place and I often ask myself…………would I have passed this test? I know there is no love greater than the love a parent has for their child, it is an unspeakable, unimaginable, a different type of love and to have such a request made by our Heavenly Father would baffle many, if not all of us. I can only imagine the mix emotions that Abraham was feeling, I believe there had to be series of doubts and questions of why God would make such a request of him, after fulfilling his promise to give them the one thing he and Sarah desired most.
However, verses 7-8 show us just how much Abraham trusted God…Isaac asked….”Father”? The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering”……..And that’s exactly what he did.
God test us in so many ways, sometimes we pass the test and other times we fall flat on our faces, but unlike the math teacher who is not willingly to give you a retest, God keeps working with us until we have mastered the subject. Our faith will always be tested, this is fact. There may be things you are asking God for, desires he has placed in your heart, but you don’t see them coming to past. It doesn’t mean that it is not going to happen, it just means that you are being prepared to fully receive what God has in store for you. There are tests that have to be passed, skills that have to be mastered, characteristics that need to be molded and most importantly faith that cannot be broken.
I must say that I am so glad to know that I will not be tested as Abraham was tested, Jesus paid the price for us all so we would not have to endure this type of test. However, I know that I am being tested, pushed, and prepared in order successfully handle the blessings that he has in store for me. To be honest, some of the test I do not like, I am being pushed out of my comfort zone, having to be more humble, working on many personal aspects of my life, and finally realizing ,”I ain’t there yet!” I have opened my heart and mind to God teachings, I am excited about the journey and determined to pass the test. After all, none of these test compare to the test given to Abraham, so how bad can it really be?
I would like to challenge you to look at the areas in your life where you are being tested. Set aside some one on one time with the Lord, ask him to reveal to you the areas where you fall short and then reasearch the bible for scriptures and mediate on those scriptures, so that you will be equipped and ready to pass the test. Remember….You must learn to pass the small test and do what God is asking you to do or it will keep you from the big things he has in store for you.
Lastly, after reading chapter 22, dare to ask yourself…………Would I pass this test?
JH♥
Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, and Leave the Rest to God
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