Totally: Getting to Know Our Knowing, Present, Capable, Caring GodSample

God knows everything. He knew that Abraham would remain faithful when tested, but God tested Abraham anyway to help Abraham grow in His faith. God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Besides the fact that murder is just wrong, God had promised Abraham that He would make a great nation through Isaac (see Genesis 21:12), so God’s instructions must have been very confusing to Abraham.

Without asking any questions, Abraham set out to do what God had told him to do, but he didn’t tell Isaac what the plan was. Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac would return after worshipping God. Abraham either lied to keep the servants from interfering when he sacrificed Isaac or told the truth because he believed that God would either change his mind or raise Isaac from the dead.

It had already taken three days for Abraham, Isaac, and the servants to get to the place where God had told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but the walk up the mountain had to have been the hardest part of the journey for Abraham. With every step, he chose obedience over common sense and personal feelings.

When Isaac asked about the lamb for the offering, Abraham told him that God would provide it. Abraham either said this to spare Isaac the anticipation of his own death or because he believed God would provide another sacrifice. Regardless, Abraham knew that God could be trusted to provide what He promised no matter the obstacle.

Abraham’s faith was strong. He continued to obey God even when God’s instructions were confusing, even when he had no idea how things would turn out, and even when it seemed like his obedience would cost him what he loved most.

Just in time, God stopped Abraham and provided another sacrifice. God proved Himself to be worthy of Abraham’s trust, a lesson that prepared Abraham to lead the large family God had promised him. When everything was over, God reassured Abraham that He would keep His covenant with Abraham, not just because He had already promised but also because of Abraham’s act of faith.

When times are hard, it helps to remember that God can be trusted. The trials we face now prepare us for the trials we will face later. God does everything for our good and His glory.