By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8
If you’ve read certain Bible stories repeatedly or heard them taught several times, they become very familiar, which is certainly a good thing. But it’s important that no matter how many times we read them, we do so with our eyes wide open, our minds ready to learn, and our spirits prepared to experience awe. The Bible gives us an overwhelming sense of admiration, fear, comfort, and reverence. It’s absolutely incredible.
A good example of one of the Bible stories that does all these things is in Genesis chapter 22. God tests Abraham by saying, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you” (v. 2). Even if you’ve read this passage countless times—actually, especially if you’ve read this passage countless times—pause and truly consider what God is commanding Abraham to do. This is earth-shattering—a true life or death situation. And having children had been a difficult journey for Abraham and Sarai, to say the absolute least.
Yet the very next verse shows Abraham setting out to follow God’s command. Abraham built an altar, bound Isaac, put him on the altar and “reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son” (v. 10). But the angel of the Lord stopped him. Did God know that Abraham would follow through with this act? Yes. Of course. He’s God, and He knows all. But this test revealed much about Abraham to Abraham.
Abraham was faithful through this test, so much so that he believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. We’re told this in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 9: “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead.” As far as we have record though, God had not done this yet. How amazing that Abraham’s faith was so great that he believed this!
God knows our hearts, but His tests reveal much about ourselves to us. When we go through tests, trials, and difficulties, let us take heart. God tells us that he will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Each test is a chance for us to grow in our faith, to cling to God, and to walk even closer with him.