Testing... testing...

"after these things"

Genesis 22:1

One of the most famous men in the Bible is Abraham.  And one of the most famous stories about Abraham is in Genesis 22, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him.  It's a story of the great faith of Abraham, but it also illustrates Isaac's faith, and most importantly, it foreshadows Christ's sacrifice for us.

But today I just want to highlight one important detail of this chapter ~ make no mistake, there are many important details, but today I'm inspired by verse 1.  Nothing like a good beginning, right?

Verse 1 says, "It came to pass after these things, that God chose to test Abraham."  It simply means, that after everything that had come before, God decided it was time.   When Amazing Boy was young, he told me he never wanted to go to school, and when I asked him why, he said, "because they give you tests."  So I said, "but sweetie, they don't give you the test until they teach you what you need to know.  They don't test you on stuff you're not ready for."

And so it is with God.  Abraham was ready for this test.  He'd had his failures.  In chapter 12 and again in chapter 20 he had lied about Sarah being his wife, not trusting God to protect them both.  But here, when God commanded the incomprehensible, Abraham promptly obeyed.

God doesn't test us to find out what we will do.  He already knows.  Psalm 26 tells us that we are to pray, "Examine me, O Lord, and test me.  Try my mind and my heart."  God tests us to show us what we will do.   To show us if we have weaknesses.  And to show us where we're strong.  Have you ever heard the expression, "he doesn't know his own strength" ?  After this test, Abraham knew his strength ~ the strength of his faith.  And after your test, you will know yours.

~ "O Lord of hosts, You test the righteous,

And see the mind and heart." ~

Jeremiah 20:12