Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Trials and Tribulations

Trials and Tribulations

Genesis 22:1-2Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.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.”

As we have already seen, all who are born again go through trials and tribulations for various reasons. Those trials can be to deepen our faith, to discipline us for sin, and they can even simply happen because the world hates us because we have the Spirit of God living in us. There is still yet another reason for our Trails and that is to actually test our faith. This is what happened to Abraham.

The first thing I’d like to point out is that this test didn’t happen until after Abraham had had time to mature in his faith. Notice the passage starts out with “some time later”. This test for Abraham had to be the most difficult of his whole life. I cannot even imagine what he must have gone through when the Lord told him to sacrifice his only son to Him. The Lord did not announce to Abraham that this was a test though, all He did was tell Him to go sacrifice his son. What is amazing is how Abraham reacted to the Lord’s command. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t ask the Lord “why”. He didn’t try and find a way around it, by asking if he could perhaps offer something else instead. Knowing God didn’t approve of child sacrifice, he didn’t even ask the Lord why He was being inconsistent! Instead, he got up first thing in the morning and started out on the 50 mile hike to do what the Lord had told him to do!

Genesis 22:3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

When he arrived at the mountain, after what must have been a very emotionally difficult trip for Abraham, he still didn’t show any doubt at all. He had not told anyone else what he was really planning other then that he was going to worship the Lord and offer a sacrifice; but he didn’t tell anyone that the sacrifice would be his son. Perhaps he wanted to spare his son from fear or worry. We don’t know why for sure but that certainly seems reasonable. By the time they arrive though, even Isaac is starting to wonder what is going on because Abraham hasn’t brought a lamb with them.

Genesis 22:7-8 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

How his heart must have broken when Isaac asked that question, and yet he stayed strong in his faith and simply said that God would provide the lamb for them. He then proceeded to build the alter, gather the wood and get everything ready. Finally, with no other choice left open to him, he bound up his only son and laid him on the alter.

Genesis 22:10-12 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Can you imagine the scene now as Abraham with tears cuts the binding from his son and holds him, praising God? Then, looking up, he saw a Ram caught in a bush and knew that the Lord had indeed provided the sacrifice for him that day. So he and his son sacrificed the Ram to the Lord together.

I don’t think I can imagine a tougher test can you? Let’s look at what the Lord said to Abraham when he had “passed” his test.

Genesis 22:12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

This test had been to see just how deep Abraham’s faith was. Did he truly fear God? Abraham passed this test and because he did and because we now have God’s Word, we can see many ways that God used this incident in one man’s life to help a great many of His children grow. He truly does work all things to our good!

What does this story teach us about faith? It shows us that faith is obedient to God, surrenders and submits all to God, waiting on Him; and that understanding comes after obedience, not before. It also shows us another truth which is that God doesn’t provide until there has been personal sacrifice. Just as Abraham had to deny himself to do God’s Will, so do we. True faith is costly. It brings to mind when Jesus said this:

Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Thank You Lord for these Trials that test, grow and refine our faith. Thank You for teaching us “the fear of the Lord”; that You are all that matters; that You really are our “all in all”. Thank You that You love us enough to discipline us and grow us into vessels that bring You honor and glory, so that we become more like our Lord Jesus every day. Strengthen us Lord and help us, so that we may always please You.

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