|
"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts."
(Proverbs 17:3)
After years of walking with God, Abraham faced a test unlike anything he had experienced before. Genesis 22 says that God tested Abraham. God had promised that Abraham's descendants would come through Isaac, yet now Abraham was instructed to take Isaac to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice.
Abraham had known other tests. God had told him to leave his homeland without knowing where he was going. He had fought to rescue Lot. He and Sarah had waited for the son God promised when having a child seemed humanly impossible. Those experiences were real tests of faith, but Genesis 22 was the great examination of Abraham's trust.
Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham believed God was able even to raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham did not understand the plan, but he knew the character of the God who had given the promise. That distinction matters for us. Faith does not mean that we understand everything God is doing. Faith means we trust God even when we do not understand.
God does not tempt His children to sin, but Scripture teaches that He does test us. Tests can expose what we truly believe and move us from complacency to dependence upon God. We may not enjoy spiritual tests any more than we enjoy examinations in school, but they can produce greater faith and greater usefulness for God.
Consider the story of Bobby Richardson, the former New York Yankees second baseman. Richardson was an outstanding defensive player and accomplished hitter. He won a Gold Glove, was named the MVP of the 1960 World Series, and established several World Series records. Yet early in his career, baseball had become so important to him that it was interfering with his relationship with God.
One night in a hotel, Richardson had no peace. He got out of bed, placed his glove on the bed, and knelt before God. He told the Lord that if he had to give up baseball in order to have peace with Him, he was willing to do it. Richardson surrendered his career to God. The test revealed what had become first in his heart.
God did not ultimately require Richardson to abandon baseball. Instead, Richardson was able to use his baseball career for God's glory. Years later, when former teammate Mickey Mantle was dying, Mantle called for Richardson. Bobby went to him and shared Christ with him, later saying that he believed Mickey had accepted Christ and that they had prayed together.
Tests reveal what holds first place in our hearts. What is God asking you to trust Him for today? A relationship? A dream? Your finances? Your future? Your plans? Perhaps the test is not about losing something but about surrendering your right to control it. When faith is tested, remember Abraham: God is worthy of our trust.
Prayer: Father, when my faith is tested, help me remember who You are. Show me anything I have placed above You, and give me grace to surrender it. Make my faith stronger through every trial and use my life for Your glory. Amen.
|
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
