Text: Genesis 22:2 KJV
Further Reading: Genesis 22:1-7
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:2
MESSAGE
The faith that would be trusted must be tested. God is looking for men to trust, but before He commits Himself to man, He must first prove that nothing is more valuable to such above Him.
Although many people followed the Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry Jesus could not commit Himself to them because He knew their hearts (John 2:24-25). They were not following the Lord because they loved God but because of what they wanted to get. Some followed Christ because of bread, others because of miracles, others just to watch a show. Such men can not be trusted with the kingdom values, hence they could not earn God’s committed trust.
The Bible calls the Almighty a jealous God, He alone must be worshipped. Today people who claim to be believers are idol worshippers at heart. They may not worship images or hosts of heaven as their father did but they place something higher than God. For some, it could be their money, spouse, qualifications, influence, children, parents, some entertainer or any influential person. Are you not one?
In fulfilling His agenda on earth, God must find a man whose heart is not divided. A man who is yielded and committed to His will. God said of David,
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Acts 13:22
Jesus our Lord was such, He said, Lo, I come to do your will as it is written of me (Hebrews 10:7). A man who will deny himself and follow God.
This denial comes at a great cost. It will cost you something, something dare to you. Apart from the denial of sin which comes through the grace of God, the believer that will be trusted with heavenly vision will be tested with what he loved the most.
In our text and reading of the day, we see God come to Abraham and said, “give me your Isaac”. It was the greatest test ever because Isaac was Abraham’s only child. Not only that, Isaac was the long waited for promised child. He was the child of Abraham’s old age. Could God be really asking for His Isaac? Yes, God was.
If God would trust the destiny of the entire world in Abraham’s hand, he must be willing to do the extraordinary. His faith must be tested above all.
Are you yearning to be used by God above all? Do you want to come into a deeper relationship with God? Then everything must come after Him. There must be no idol in your heart. He will also test your faith to see if you truly love Him.
Until your all on the altar is laid, God can not commit His fullness to you. Such trust is earned by a radical faith that has been tested and found true.
REFLECTION
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:12
Whenever your faith is being tested, God is preparing something bigger for you. He wants to promote you to a place of trust.
PRAYER
Father, Please help me to the faithful in my hour of testing, so that no man would wear my crown.
