Photo by Ruslan Cəfərzadə

Failing in a test is not easy to take. I had seen a life devastated for she could not accept receiving a failing grade in one of her examinations. She was about to graduate and was expectant that she would receive the highest honor in her batch. Throughout all the years of her study, all her grades were exceptional. But that one test ruined her academic records.

That was painful for her. She did not attend the graduation ceremony. She was emotionally devastated and ended up with a pre-mature marriage. But all things work together for good; she is now happy with her husband and a 6-year-old son.

Life is full of tests and challenges. In the case of life's test, if caught unprepared, failure is the most likely outcome. Such an experience if received bitterly, one has to bear its burdens even through their old age.

Biblical characters are not exempted from life's test. In Genesis 22 verses 1 to 19, we read a story about how God tested Abraham. I hope that in reflecting on this test, we will learn something about facing our tests in life.

We learn from the narrative that God's test comes at the right time.

The Bible said, "Some time later. . . ." This indicates that in the latter part of Abraham's life, God tested him. Notice that this test is not an ordinary one. This is the most difficult kind of test that a man can undergo. This test has something to do with the object of your love and with the certainty of your future. We all know by experience that it is not easy to give up someone that you love and the perceived bright prospects of your future.

God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. Abraham loved Isaac so much. Abraham waited for Isaac for 75 long years. The coming of Isaac was a fulfillment of God's promise. Through Isaac, Abraham's legacy would be established. He could pass to his son the covenant and his wealth. But for unknown reasons, all of these had to end. Abraham had to sacrifice his beloved son.

We do not know how old Abraham was when God gave him this test. Perhaps, he was around 120 at that time for Isaac was already gown up. After enjoying the fulfillment of God's promise and the presence of his son for some years, God asked him to give up his son. Yes, this test was difficult, but it came to Abraham at the right time. This would mean that God knew that Abraham would pass this test simply because God had been working in Abraham's life for so long.

God wants every one of us to grow. With growth comes responsibility. But growth requires pain. It is a process that you must take for you to grow. And in that process, tests and trials in life play a significant role. But the good thing is God does not give us tests that he did not equip us first.

God gives the ability and strength to pass His test.

Abraham underwent many trials before this test was given to him. He experienced famine, wealth, war, marital conflict, and separation from his eldest son, Ishmael. Throughout all these trials, God did not abandon Abraham. In a way, we could say that God used all these trials to prepare Abraham for the ultimate test in his life. Through these trials, God strengthened Abraham. Through these trials, Abraham came to know God more deeply. His knowledge of God grew through the trials that he experienced in his life. And that is why when God commanded Abraham, he simply obeyed even though it was painful for him.

Likewise, we see the same pattern in the life of Jesus. We see him agonizing at Gethsemane. But he was not thinking about himself. Instead, he was thinking about the Father's glory and the welfare of his disciples.

If you are related to Him, Jesus' victory is also your victory. If ever you are facing the most difficult test in your life, remember that you can find strength in Jesus.

Finally, we learn that God provides a substitute sacrifice after passing the test.

Abraham passed God's test. The angel told him:

Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son (v. 12).

After hearing these words, Abraham saw a ram and sacrificed it instead of his son.

Sacrificing a son is a very important theme in the Bible. We saw it first here in the case of Abraham when God told him to sacrifice Isaac. But God provided a ram and Abraham sacrificed it instead of Isaac.

And then we saw it next during the time of Moses, when he was born, and when he led Israel out of Egypt. When Moses was born, the Pharaoh of Egypt gave an order to kill all newborn boys. It was a different kind of sacrifice. Pharaoh wanted to sacrifice Israel to protect Egypt. But after 80 years, God avenged the injustice suffered by Israel. God killed all the firstborns in Egypt, and the entire army of Pharaoh and saved Israel.

The same story repeated during the birth of Jesus. King Herod to save his throne killed all the boys in Bethlehem who were two years old and under.

And finally, we see this theme repeated in the death of Jesus, the Son of God Himself, to die on the cross instead of us.

Among these numerous accounts of sacrificing human lives, we see similarities and differences. Both Pharaoh and Herod killed innocent boys to perpetuate their power. Through the death of the firstborn in Egypt and Pharaoh's army, God saved Israel by demonstrating his justice. In the case of Isaac and Jesus' death, we see here the reality of substitutionary death, the death of someone for the other one to live. In this case, the death of the ram is analogous to Jesus' death. It is God who provides the sacrificial lamb for Isaac and the church to live. The death of the ram means life for Isaac. The death of Jesus means life for you and me.

Conclusion

Through the test given by God to Abraham, we learn that the test of God comes at the right time, that God gives the ability and strength to pass his test, and that God provides a substitute sacrifice after passing the test.