Faith in Times of Testing
‘So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”’ (Genesis 22:14)
True character often emerges under pressure. True convictions often are shown in the furnace of difficulty. And true faith is often revealed in the kiln of testing. Some of the greatest leaders in history showed their true mettle under pressure. Winston Churchill is revered for his extraordinary leadership during the Second World War. Scholars debate his performance as a leader in peacetime. But in the fire and fear of war, he was extraordinary by any measure. And without his leadership, we might well question whether the Nazi menace could have been defeated.
All Christians must learn to endure seasons of testing. Genesis 22 details perhaps the most dramatic test that God ever called one of his servants to endure. Verse 1 states, ‘After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!...Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”’ Try to imagine the scene. After waiting decades for this promised child, Abraham is asked by the Lord to sacrifice his son on an altar. One would expect Abraham to protest the Lord’s request. But when God spoke, Abraham listened, followed, and obeyed. Look at Abraham’s response: ‘So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.’ (v. 3) How could Abraham obey such a challenging test? The answer is that Abraham placed his faith in God’s promises, His power, and His provision.
Abraham had plenty of low points in his discipleship – plenty of failures – but his mature faith was on full display as he approached the mountain of sacrifice. Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over and worship and come again to you.’ (v. 5) Abraham had been told to slaughter his son. And yet he told his travelling companions that he and the boy would come back. How could he say that? Hebrews 11:17 explains, ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac…He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead.’ Abraham had faith in God’s covenant promise that He would make a great nation of Abraham – and through his family, bring blessing to the world. Since Isaac was the key to the fulfilment of that promise, Abraham reasoned that the Sovereign God could overcome the grave. He also had faith in God’s provision. Notice how Abraham replied to his son when asked about the lamb: “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (v.8).
We too can endure tests by placing our faith in God’s covenant promises. We don’t know the details of how our trials will end, but we know from God’s Word that He will fulfill His promises to save His people, to make us like His Son, and to take us safely home. We can stand firmly upon these promises because God provided the perfect Lamb—Jesus Christ—who died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. God displayed His power over the grave in Christ’s resurrection. Since God will keep all of His promises to us, and since death is no barrier to Him, our future is secure and no trial can sink our faith. We can walk confidently with God through the dark seasons, our hand in His.