THE TESTING

The first time I took my sons to hike a Colorado Fourteener—a mountain with an elevation of a least 14,000 feet—they were nervous. Could they make it? Were they up to the challenge? My youngest stopped on the trail for extended breaks. “Dad, I can’t go any more,” he said repeatedly. But I believed this test would be good for them, and I wanted them to trust me. A mile from the peak, my son who’d insisted he could go no further caught his second wind and beat us to the summit. He was so glad he trusted me, even amid his fears.

I marvel at the trust Isaac had in his father as they climbed their mountain. Far more, I’m undone by the trust Abraham had in God as he raised his knife over his son (Genesis 22:10). Even with his confused and wrenching heart, Abraham obeyed. Mercifully, an angel stopped him. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” God’s messenger declared (v. 12). God never intended for Isaac to die.

As we draw parallels from this unique story to our own with caution, it’s crucial to note the opening line: “God tested Abraham” (v. 1). Through his test, Abraham learned how much he trusted God. He discovered His loving heart and profound provision.

In our confusion, darkness, and testing, we learn truths about ourselves and about God. And we may even find that our testing leads to a deeper trust in Him.

Read: Genesis 22:1-3, 6-12 (NIV)

Read: Genesis 22:1-3 (NIV)

Abraham Tested

22 Some time later God tested^a Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,”^b he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son^c, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah.^d 

Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering^e on a mountain I will show you.^f”

3 Early the next morning^g Abraham got up and loaded 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.

Read: Genesis 22:6-12 (NIV)

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac,ⁱ 

and he himself carried the fire and the knife.^j As the two of them went on together, 

7 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^k for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide^l the lamb^m for the burnt offering, my son.”

And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about,ⁿ 

Abraham built an altar^o there and arranged the wood^p on it.

He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar,^q on top of the wood. 

10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife^r to slay his son.^s 

11 But the angel of the Lord^t called out to him from heaven,^u “Abraham! Abraham!”^v

“Here I am,”^w he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him.

Now I know that you fear God,^x because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.^y”

INSIGHT

1. How do you believe you’ve been tested by God?
2. What was that experience like, and what did you take away from it?

Genesis 22:1, 15–18 make it clear that God tested Abraham to examine his heart. While God may test our faith and obedience (James 1:2–4), He never tempts us to do wrong (v. 13). The writer of Hebrews commended the patriarch’s deep faith: “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again” (Hebrews 11:19 nlt). The apostle James said that “Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. . . . His actions made his faith complete” (James 2:21–22 nlt).

PRAYER

God, I don’t know if what I’m experiencing is Your testing or not, but either way, I want to trust You. I give my future to You. In Jesus holy and precious name, I pray. Amen!!

Read: Genesis 22:1-3, 6-12 (NIV)  | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5