The Power
Abraham's test was ultimately, a picture of the dear Lamb of God who left His glory above to die on the cross.
And not just to die on the cross, but to be raised to life again in power!
You see, Abraham seemed to believe that God would raise Isaac from the dead. He said to the servants who were with him: "We will worship and then we will come back to you." (Genesis 22:5)
Faith in God's Power
He was convinced that they were both gonna be coming back! In fact in the New Testament we read this, which explains it: "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced 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 even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death." (Hebrews 11:17-19)
Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead. He told himself that God would still make all of this work, even if he made this sacrifice.
Abraham is still trusting God to be El Shaddai. The God who revealed Himself to Abraham as 'all powerful and all sufficient'.
He thought if this God can do what He's already done, He's got a plan here. Faith in the power of God defined Abraham's whole story.
Perhaps the tests we go through are opportunities to keep trusting. To keep believing. To keep the faith. Perhaps the tests God gives allow us to truly place our faith in Him as the trustworthy and good and powerful God that He is.
Trust Through Testing
The year is coming to a close. It's been a testing year for many of us. But that's OK.
The promise of God is not just to bless us, but to test us. It's His way of having us grow. To do well in His test, we must be willing to pay a price. It's only when we sacrifice that we get anywhere. And God will provide. He provided salvation for us through Jesus in a spectacular way, as this story foreshadowed. But more than this, He'll provide all you need to pass your test if you will stick to Him. His power is great. He is El Shaddai just like He was from the beginning.
When it comes to our faith, just mustard seed of faith will get you to pass the test. You don't need to be scoring 100%. You never will. But with faith the size of a mustard seed, you can pass your test.
Abraham did. So can you.
