Right now I'm reading through Genesis and just finished the story where God asked Abraham to offer Isaac. I can't even imagine how Abraham must have felt. His heart must have sunk when God asked him to give-up the most precious thing in his life. On top of that, Abraham had to journey for three days until God showed him where to offer the sacrifice. What was he thinking during those three days?- Did I really hear God right? Maybe I was mistaken.
- Why would God want me to do this when He knows how long we waited for this promised child? Is He trying to torture me?
- What have I done wrong? This must be a judgment for some sin in my life.
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son (Genesis 22:13).
God confirmed Abraham's faith by supplying the provision (a ram caught in a thicket), but the provision was not revealed until Abraham demonstrated his faith. And after the provision was revealed, Abraham still had to grab it and use it for the glory of God. God could have just revealed the ram beforehand, killed it, laid it on the altar to be sacrificed, and lit His own fire - but how would that have strengthened Abraham's faith? All I'm saying is that it's good to have our faith tested from time to time. It's good that God doesn't do everything for us. It's good that we have to wrestle the ram and offer the sacrifice. These experiences deepen our faith and increase our love for God. So the next time you experience a crisis of faith, trust the Lord to provide exactly what is needed for the situation. And once the provision is revealed, get that ram! Receive what God has given and use it for His glory.
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