As usual let us see how Abraham’s faith in God was tested/tried on obedience and sacrifice (Gen.22:1-19). Having tested/tried Abraham’s Faith on Separation and Trust in God and with Adversities and Delays and proved same true, the Lord now progressed to test/try Abraham’s faith on Obedience and Sacrifice. He wanted to know or see the extent to which Abraham’s faith in God could carry or make him to obey Him and sacrifice for Him. To do that, the Lord made a hard or difficult demand from Abraham – his only Son, whom he really loved and valued, one for whom he had patiently waited and endured a lot for (Heb.6:15).
Ordinarily Abraham would have failed that test based on the above points or considerations. Nevertheless, to prove the truth, reality and greatness of his faith in God, Abraham did not see any difficulty in obeying God or making sacrifice for Him to that extent. He promptly obeyed and was up to sacrifice or slay his son on the alter of tear and obedience to God. It was revealed or stated that His motivation to go ahead to slay his son was his faith, belief or trust in God that even at death, He was faithful and able enough to raise him to use him to establish his promise or covenant with him (Heb.11:17-19; Gen.21:12). When Abraham’s faith in God passed the test/trial on Obedience and Sacrifice, the Lord was so pleased and excited that He lavishly declared blessings upon him and ratified same with an oath (Gen. 22:12-18).
Like we had stated or implied, Abraham’s walk with God was to be a model for all who would believe in and walk with God. Just like Abraham’s faith in God was tested/tried in the area of obedience and sacrifice, so anyone who profess or claim to, believe in God or Christ will, one way or the other, have his/her faith tested/tried. Some times the Lord may deliberately make some demands of obedience and sacrifice from us in areas that might be difficult for us. It might be on things we so cherish, value or are greatly attached to. He might demand that we offer it to Him in sacrifice. He might demand that we do, drop or give up something we might find difficult to do. It may be to go to a place we least expect or wish to go.
We may try to give some excuses or make some convincing case but He insists that it must be so. At such a time He is testing/trying our obedience and willingness to sacrifice for Him (Luke 9:59-62; Mk.10:17-25). There are many believers in God or Christ whose faith or belief in Him is not true, real and strong enough to obey Him in some areas or things. They will not be able to make some certain sacrifices the Lord might demand of or from them. The Lord does not take the faith of such people serious. He cannot rely on; neither will He boast with such people’s faith. He will not commit serious spiritual matters into the hands of such people, and such people will not go far in reaping from God or Christ, the fruits or rewards of believing or having faith in Him. And such people have no business singing or claiming, Abraham’s Blessings as theirs, as people do sing or claim.
There may be people that the things that I have and will be stating in this series on Trials of Faith will explain the situations they had been in, or have passed through. Some may have unconsciously failed the tests/trials while some may have passed without realizing it.
