June 8

“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’.”—GENESIS 22:2

When the sun is shining and the sky is blue, it’s easy to become complacent in our walk with God. Then… bang! Something happens and our faith is tested.

God’s testing of Abraham stands as the climax of his life. He had recognized what all the years of struggles and frustrations were about. Twenty-five years he had waited for a son through whom God had promised would come a nation, and from that nation, the Seed that would bless the world. Over 100 years old, Abraham is settled in the Promised Land with his promised heir, and all the storms of his life are presumably behind him.  

Then God tells him to take the son he loves and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. A burnt offering would have symbolized giving up all that he has, all that he is and all that he hoped to be, and offering it up wholly to God. Everything Abraham stood for was vested in his son, Isaac, and God is saying, “It’s not just bits and pieces, Abraham. I am asking you for lock, stock and barrel. Put it on the altar, slay it and burn it.” So there is nothing left that belongs to Abraham. And he responds with unflinching obedience.

After years of ups and downs with God, Abraham had learned to trust and obey. Though he knew his trust in God to uphold the covenant, and obedience to Him in sacrificing Isaac were on a collision course, Abraham had left the consequences of his obedience to God. Mature faith, as is evidenced at this stage, trusts the hidden wisdom of God that in the course of time it will make itself known despite the lack of human reasoning. James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.  

God gives us many blessings: family, home, careers, achievements, but sometimes we allow them to become a substitute for God, placing our hopes and security in them rather than in God Himself. When that happens, a stern hand may come down from heaven and our faith is tested. As painful as it may be, we will find liberty and assurance as we trust God in the testing. Very often the most intimate workings of God take place in the solitude of our hearts where we surrender everything we are and have to Him. Our circumstances then become His responsibility, and out of that grows a fresh dependence on God, which equips for any situation.

PRAYER: I pray, Lord, for an unwavering faith in You that will withstand any test. Help me to be obedient and completely dependent on You. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: Do I tend to be complacent in my faith when all is going well?