10/15/2024 – Your Faith will be Tested in your Family
Genesis 22: 1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
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The greatest tests of your faith will involve your family. The people you love the most will also be part of the greatest challenges of your faith.
Abraham was blessed and became a blessing because his faith overcame great challenges. It is interesting that the most difficult tests Abraham faced involved his family. The people God has placed in your life, who share your family name, who live with you, will provide the best evidence of your faith. Abraham was tested in trusting God in waiting for his son, Isaac, beyond the “normal” time a man can be a father. And even after receiving the promise, he was tested to the point of sacrifice.
Abraham and Sara trusted God and loved each other despite their own failures. Abraham was tested in terms of his love for Sarah, his wife. Would he trust God that the son of promise would be through her, even though age and circumstances seemed against them? Even as they made poor decisions together, would their faith and love be strong enough to admit their sin and seek to be restored?
It was Sarah’s idea to “help God” by having a child through Hagar, her servant. This had terrible consequences for all; but they did not allow their bad decisions to derail God’s plan. We remain united with those we love not because they always make good decisions- no one does. We don’t remain together because there is no conflict- we overcome conflict with love!