Trials, Tests, and Challenges

Gen 21-24 We all face these at one time or another, but it is our response that catches the eye of God. How do you face car problems or rats in your attic? These are our everyday challenges, but Abraham had a much bigger test, and it was to see how much he would trust God. If God asked you to slay your child, what would you do? Would you be like Abraham, who told Isaac: God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering? [Gen 22:8] Would you honestly believe his words, “we will worship and then return to you?” Would you vacillate in your thinking or stand firm? I doubt many of us have faced such a tough test as Abraham, but we can glean some principles for the tests we do face.

First, we have to trust God that He knows us as He knew Abraham and Job, blameless and upright men who feared God. So that brings us to the next question; how big is your fear of God? Is it a fear that means you are afraid or a fear that means you reverence Him and, therefore, can trust Him? The psalmist wrote: Yes, indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way. [Ps 128:4]

If your fear is that of being afraid, pray and ask God to change it to a reverential fear so He can bless you. (I need to do that more often than I would like to admit, how about you?) .