13 April 2010 Devotion for Today "A Test You Cannot Study For" Genesis 22: 1-8

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

11:31 AM

^{1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"}

      "Here I am," he replied.

 2 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."

 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

      "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

      "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"

 8 Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. (Genesis 22:1-8)

 
 

On more than at least one occasion in my scholastic career, I have shown up at class and been unprepared for a test. Sometimes it was done at the whim of a professor- one of those "pop" quizzes. At other times (more like) it happened because I wasn't paying attention to the date and therefore did not study properly. Experiences such as these seldom went well for me. Panic would course through my veins. I recall one time I sat the whole hour starring at a blank piece of paper unable to put down anything of coherence. At that point I resorted to prayer, but not even prayer helped in a time like this except to help me keep my composure.

We are tested like this most all of the time. The exam is given in the great classroom of life. It is a test for which none of us can study. We either know the material or we do not- or at least we already know how we will answer. Abraham encountered such a test in Genesis 22. It appears on the surface a somewhat sadistic exam given by God. Why would God demand and take from Abraham the very thing He had promises him only a few years before? God demanded that Abraham go to Mount Moriah and sacrifice his precious son! How unthinkable!

Yet Abraham does not get flushed nor does he panic. Calmly and confidently he packs the donkey for the trip, takes the wood, his knife, the fire, and then finally, his son Isaac. Together they go until the donkey can go no further. Alone the two of them continue up the mountain where Abraham will construct a makeshift altar. Even young Isaac is aware that his father is unprepared for the test by asking, "But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answers, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."

Such tests will either bring out the worst or the best from our character. In Abraham's case, he was confident in the fact that no matter what the outcome, God will provide. If it meant that he was to slay his son, then in some other way God was responsible for fulfilling the promise despite how much Abraham knew this would hurt. Abraham trusted God enough that if He were willing, God would provide the needed sacrificial lamb or animal atop the mountain. Abraham had followed God by faith many times, and God had never let him down yet. Abraham knew this, and calmly ascended the mountain.

God has made me aware today that He is giving me an exam. On it is only one question- "Do You Trust Me?" But it is not enough just to answer yes or no. In the space beneath the question God calls upon us to prove it. How will you respond to today's exam?

Prayer: "Dear God Your exam has but one question, but it takes different forms. I ask God that You give me Your grace to complete this test and pass with flying colors. I do trust You God, help me to be as confident of my proof as I am in my answer. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Have a blessed day!