The Testing

<p>The first time I took my sons to hike a Colorado Fourteener&mdash;a mountain with an elevation of a least 14,000 feet&mdash;they were nervous. <em>Could they make it? Were they up to the challenge?</em> My youngest stopped on the trail for extended breaks. &ldquo;Dad, I can&rsquo;t go any more,&rdquo; he said repeatedly. But I believed this test would be good for them, and I wanted them to trust me. A mile from the peak, my son who&rsquo;d insisted he could go no further caught his second wind and beat us to the summit. He was so glad he trusted me, even amid his fears.</p> <p>I marvel at the trust Isaac had in his father as they climbed their mountain. Far more, I&rsquo;m undone by the trust Abraham had in God, raising his knife over his son (Genesis 22:10). Even with his confused and wrenching heart, Abraham obeyed. Mercifully, an angel stopped him. &ldquo;Do not lay a hand on the boy,&rdquo; God&rsquo;s messenger declared (22:12). God never intended for Isaac to die.</p> <p>As we draw parallels from this unique story to our own with caution, it&rsquo;s crucial to note the opening line: &ldquo;God tested Abraham&rdquo; (v. 1). Through his test, Abraham learned how much he trusted God. He discovered His loving heart and profound provision.</p> <p>In our confusion, darkness, and testing, we learn truths about ourselves and about God. And we may even find that our testing leads to a deeper trust in Him.</p>