2023_02_22 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Genesis 22, Hebrews 7, Genesis 26-27, Acts 7
It can be very unsettling to think about the situation Abraham faced when he followed God’s prompting to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham didn’t know what would happen, but he had come to a place where he trusted God so much that he knew that obeying Him was the best routed to take – even if it meant sacrificing his son. God never intended for Isaac to be killed, He was testing Abraham to show both him and Isaac what his faith was like. There are times when God will put us in situations where our trust in Him is on the line so that we (and others) can see what our relationship with God is made of. It could be a personal relationship where we have to choose to follow God and say “goodbye” to the relationship, or to give in to our own comfort and say “no” to God. It might even be a situation at work where to honor God would mean taking a stand that could cause us to lose our job. The bottom line is that throughout our lives we will face numerous tests – big and small – that God is using to show us the strength of our faith and/or where we need to grow.
In James we read, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2–4 (NLT)
God uses trials and tests to help us grow and mature in our faith. He never tempts us to do wrong, that is what Satan tries to do. Trials and tests build spiritual muscles and build endurance. Unfortunately, there are many who think God should be in the business of making us comfortable and happy all the time. Take a lesson from Abraham and learn that instead of comfortable and happy God is working to help us become courageous and holy.
“It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”
Hebrews 11:17–19 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor