Watchman: Daily Devotional, God Does Not Tempt Us, but He Does Test Us (James 1:13). God Will Test Us to Strengthen Our Resolve and to Help Us Realize Where We Are in Our Growth in Him. His Tests Help Us Get off the Fence and Stand Squarely in the Kingdom of God
Daily Devotional:
Genesis 22:1-2 1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 2Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Isaac was one of the most significant foreshadowings of Christ. Throughout the story, we see glimpses of what will happen in Jesus' life. Isaac's birth was a miracle. He is the lone son of his father's affection, the son of promise. He carried the wood for his execution on the mountain of Moriah (the same spot where Jesus was slain).
Given Abraham's age, I believe the boy was willingly bound by his father, just as Jesus freely went to the crucifixion. We won't hear anything else about Isaac until he marries. These are incredible similarities that show God is in the details and knows the finish from the beginning.
God is supposed to be testing Abraham in this chapter. God does not tempt us, but He does put us to the test (James 1:13). God will put us to the test in order to strengthen our determination and show us where we are in our spiritual progress. His tests assist us in getting off the fence and standing squarely in God's realm.
He addresses us by name. Jesus communicates to us today just as clearly as He did to Abraham. What appeared to be a huge hardship and contradictory with God's character turned out to be a huge blessing. It is today considered a tremendous honor for Abraham to have believed God's promise to the point where he knew God would revive Isaac from the grave (Hebrews 11:19). "We shall return to you," he informed his servants (22:5).
Ponder what God has promised you. Will you put everything down and allow God to bring it about in His own time and in His own way? Can you return it to God, as faithful Abraham did?
The Great Tribulation
It is our belief that the Great Tribulation referred to in the New Testament Book of Revelation (chapters 6-11) is unfolding before our eyes. In the near future, we will devote the "Tribulation" tab on our "Trending" menu to this emerging reality. As people continue to unplug from mainstream media, our commitment is to present the truth and encourage our audience to understand current events from a Biblical perspective. Click here to begin the journey.
The Watchman
In the Bible, the Watchman is responsible for keeping watch and warning others of potential danger or impending judgment. The role is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 33:6, God says to the prophet Ezekiel, "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand." Click here to begin the journey.
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