Daily Devotions
Genesis
"For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined." Psalm 66:10
Text: Genesis 22:1-24
THE PRINCIPLE OF TESTING
The principle of testing was employed time and again in Abraham’s life, even though it was not formally stated. There were times when Abraham fared badly. The tests showed up his problem of living by his wits rather than by faith. When he walked in the light of his own human wisdom, invariably he failed miserably.
There were also times when he succeeded, and those were high points of his life. The following text described one of those high points. In this text, the idea of testing was formally stated.
“Now it came to pass after these things that
God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’
And he said, ‘Here I am.” And He said,
‘Take now your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love,
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'”GENESIS 22:1-2
A REAL TEST
We must not imagine that Abraham “saw through” God’s test and decided that he had nothing to lose if he went along with the charade! The test that God set Abraham was real enough!
A TEST OF FAITH
What had Abraham learned as he continued on his journey of faith? What had he learned about God? What had he learned about his faith in God? All that he had learned would be tested once again. He had failed many times before. With all his heart, he must have desired not to fail God again, if possible.
A TEST OF LOVE
Had Abraham learned to love the Lord along the way? We can safely conclude that his faith in God led him to love this Everlasting God who had stood by him all these many years! How could anyone speak of a deep faith in God without also loving Him dearly?
However, Abraham also had developed a deep sense of love for Isaac. He became the sole object of his love now that Ishmael was living elsewhere! Daily the love for his one and only son deepened!
If ever there was a choice between loving God or loving Isaac more, how would Abraham choose? Before too long, that love for God and Isaac would be tested!
“Offer him there as a burnt offering…”
What somber words those were! Abraham had learned much about God. But how much did he really know? Did this Everlasting God delight in a human sacrifice as other deities were known to enjoy? Abraham’s faith would be sorely tested this time round!