“Some time later, God tested Abraham” (Gen. 22:1)

Life is full of tests. Every thought, decision, action, reaction, and even every desire, is a test of our obedience to God. God doesn’t test us to inform Himself about anything He doesn’t know. He is All-knowing. Rather, He tests us to reveal our heart’s situation with Him, and to demand our return to Him. He designs every test with purpose, and with specific lessons for our growth

In Abraham, God showed the quality of faith He requires in every justified soul in Christ (Gen. 22). God’s “Now I know” statement (v.12) was not a statement of discovery, but that of affirmation. His provision of a substitute opened a new dimension of God to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh (v.14).

Job was tested to the highest point of human endurance to display the quality of his faith before heaven and earth (Job 1:6-2:13). In his trials, God proved that Job’s faith did not depend on wealth, family, or physical wellbeing as Satan claimed. By them, God taught us to walk with Him in absolute trust, no matter how terrible or personal our situation may be. With Job, we can say in our trials, “When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job. 23:10).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went through their fiery testing in the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3:1-30). Their faith was tested when they refused to bow to the golden image the king had erected in the plain of Dura. Their attitude of faith is exemplary in today’s world, in which many things seek our worship apart from Him. It instructs us on the virtue of trusting in God’s sovereignty, even when we’re threatened by death (vv.16-18).

Daniel was called to defend his faith under threat of being offered a rendezvous with a pack of hungry lions in their den. Nonetheless, Daniel stood firm and survived the test (Dan. 6:10). He teaches us that integrity could be hazardous to our survival in this corrupt world, but God rewards His faithful who, regardless, continue in their righteous living.

In all examples, God worked to show that He is faithful to those who are faithful to Him (2 Sam. 22:26). But there are equally many saints of sterling faith and character that were not delivered as these ones were, yet they stood unswervingly in their faith till death swept them away into God’s eternal presence (Hebrews 11:33-38). It’s all about God’s sovereign will.

So, the tests God brings your way are not for His discovery of some truth He does not know. He knows everything. They are simply for our sake to discover, to learn, and to grow in the knowledge of Him and to grow into the image of Christ. Our success in the testing also becomes an example and encouragement for others when they face similar situations. The question then is not whether the testing will come or not, but how you will see, face, and grow by it when it comes.

May He give you the grace to stand and not fall.