A Test of Faith

A Test of FaithBy Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

"God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."  (Genesis 22:8)         Abraham fully trusted God's promise that Isaac would continue his bloodline. He knew that somehow Isaac would live to fulfill God's promise. Abraham believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would somehow return Isaac to life. "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death" (Hebrews 11:17-19).       Abraham wasn't worried because he fully trusted that God's plan would happen--no matter what obstacles occurred. Genesis 22:5 says it all: "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.'" Even as he prepared the sacrifice, Abraham was confident that both he and his son would return alive.       God kept His promise, and Isaac did live to produce heirs. In verse 13, we see that God provided the solution--a ram caught in the thicket. "Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided'" (Genesis 22:13-14).       When God has a plan, He will see it fulfilled. What is God calling you to sacrifice as a test of your faith in Him? Is it your reputation or your net worth? Is it a relationship or an ambition? God wants us to give up anything that distracts us from Him.       Prayer: Father, show me if there is anything in my life distracting me from You. Show me if there is something You would have me sacrifice to You. Give me the courage to obey like Abraham, trusting that nothing will prevent Your plans from being fulfilled. Amen.