FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word
WEEKLY WORD
THE TESTIMONY FROM A TEST!
22 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.
GENESIS 22:1, 2
NEW KING JAMES VERSION
It has been said that you can find a message in every mess; a rainbow from a rainstorm and A TESTIMONY FROM A TEST. It is in this passage where we find God testing Abraham. It will be this test that will result in a powerful testimony which reveals God as Jehovah Jireh. This name means GOD IS OUR PROVIDER.
However, what is important to note is the difference between being tempted and being tested. Always remember GOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TESTS but the devil is behind temptation. According to James 1:13, God cannot tempt nor can be tempted. This means He is incapable of tempting because His righteousness can never tempt anyone to do wrong. Temptation results in our failure but when God gives us a test then His intention will bring our lives favor.
The testimony from this test is found in vs. 5. It is Abraham who says to his men to stay with the donkey as he and his son will go and worship; and WE WILL RETURN. This seemingly looks like Abraham has 2nd thoughts when it comes to sacrificing his son. However, this statement was not one of potential failure but favor because it was a faith statement.
The bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. Earlier in the book of Genesis, God gave Abraham His Word [Gen. 17:7, 8].
• 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in[a] which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
As Abraham was on his way to sacrifice his son, HE REMEMBERED GOD’S WORD that activated his faith and allowed him to say with confidence, “…I and the lad are going to worship and WE WILL BE BACK.” The testimony of this test shows God’s favor as a possibility when your faith becomes a reality!!! God will keep His Word and we need to have His Word. God’s Word serves as a reminder to all of us that HE IS A PROMISE KEEPER OF HIS WORD! All we have to have is FAITH that God rewards us with His FAVOR!
Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor