July 13.
It’s Only A Test

Genesis 22:1

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

On a number of occasions, I’ve been watching my favorite TV program only to be interrupted with a clear screen, a round circle, and an unusual tune. After about sixty seconds, an announcement was made that it was only a test. If I had cut off my television the moment it went out, I would have missed the rest of the story. God takes us through tests. Many times when we experience tests, we give up the ship instead of being patient with God and seeing it through. Instead, we throw in the towel.

Abraham was a man who had experienced many tests. Here, the text says that God did tempt Abraham. We know that God tempts no man; God is not a tempter. The correct translation of this word is actually test; God did test Abraham. Now this was not the only test that Abraham had experienced. One of his first tests was his forsaking test. He had to forsake his home and his family and go to a land he knew not of. Later, he experienced a famine test during a drought. He had a falsehood test because he deliberately lied about his wife. He had a fellowship test because he had experienced a fellowship with his brother and his brother’s son. He had to deal with a forgiveness test, because before he could be blessed, he had to get it right with God after lying about his spouse. He had a future test because God didn’t tell him exactly where he was going. He had a faith test of believing God that he would father a child in his old age. He had the forbearance test when Hagar and Ishmael, his outside boy, had to leave home. He had a friendship test because he experienced a home visit with God and one of the angels. He had a farewell test because he had to say goodbye to Ishmael. He had a funeral test because he had to bury his wife Sarah. Tests, they are only tests.