“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.” (Genesis 22:1, NIV).
The NIV uses the better word here than found in the KJV. The Hebrew word is " נָסָה [nacah /naw·saw/] meaning: to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test." [1] The word is better translated "put to the test" instead of tempt because God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13). But He does try to "prove" us -- show us to be real, to be genuine. 1 Peter 1:6–7 (NIV) teaches us:
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
"In His Parable of the Sower, Jesus identifies the ones who fall away as those who receive the seed of God’s Word with joy, but as soon as a time of testing comes along, they fall away. James clearly explains that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads to maturity in our walk with God. Perseverance in times of trial and testing will result in our spiritual maturity, our completeness (James 1:3-4). James goes on to say that testing is a blessing, because when the testing is over and we have “stood the test,” we will “receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12)." [2]
What a huge test, God put to Abraham. “Then God said, “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.”” (Genesis 22:2, NIV).
"The outcome of the incident makes it clear that God never intended the directive to be fulfilled. Thus, taken as a whole (in terms of both the command and the outcome), the incident cannot be seen to conflict with God’s moral law. Because this was by far the greatest demand that God could have made of Abraham, it confirmed the depth of the Patriarch’s commitment. Abraham was willing to kill his own son, although as the author of Hebrews observes (Heb. 11:17–19), he prepared to do so believing that God was able to bring Isaac back to life again (see note on Gen. 22:5–8)." [3]
Father, even as I conduct this study based upon Abraham and his faith, I am troubled by what I read. I find that my own faith is being questioned. How could You ask Abraham to do what was morally wrong? If this was just a hypothetical test, was it a real test? I trust You to bring me answers to these questions, but this I know, to Abraham, this was a real test. He really intended to obey You. I know You test me. Some of my tests also border on the unusual. I've never thought before that You test me even in those things that I might rest in the assurance that in all this, You will provide a way of escape. Help me to trust you. Even as Paul was to say later when he was in prison:“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:18–20, NIV). Amen.
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1. Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (87). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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