“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine…” – 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)
From the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation, God tests His people. In every era, every covenant, under every circumstance, no generation is exempted. No believer escapes the furnace!
Theologian Charles Spurgeon said, “The trial of your faith will increase, develop, deepen, and strengthen it. Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house.”
Ways in which God tested His people:
- Abraham’s faith and obedience were tested with his only son, Isaac. God said, “Take your…only son…Isaac and go to the land of Moriah…sacrifice him as a burnt offering…” (Genesis 22:2, NLT). Abraham was tested, not to trip him and watch him fall, but to deepen his capacity to obey God, and thus to develop his character. God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested, we can complain or try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.
- Israel was tested by the bitter water at Marah. “…It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to Him:” (Exodus 15:25, NLT). Marah symbolised the unbelieving, grumbling attitude of those who would not trust God. Let us be encouraged to trust God in every situation.
- Israel was tested by manna in the wilderness. “Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness…humbling you and testing you to prove your character…Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna…” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3, NLT). Real life doesn’t consist of the abundance of material things, but of a total commitment to God, the One Who created life itself. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and hard work.
During the forty years in the wilderness, God tested the Israelites’ character. Be aware that attractive speakers are not always led by God. Check: Is their focus on God or themselves? Are their words consistent with the Scripture? We have the spirit of discernment. Allow God to lead, not the eloquence of speech. The wise person will carefully test ideas against the truth of God’s Word.
Additionally, the Book of Judges records that God allowed some of Israel’s enemies to remain to test them (Judges 3:1-4) and see whether they would obey God’s commands or follow man’s ways. We are always given an opportunity to exercise our faith and obedience. In 2nd Chronicles 32:31, God temporarily withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and see what was really in his heart. The test was meant to strengthen him, develop his character, and prepare him for the tasks ahead.
What are you like under pressure or when everything is going wrong? Is your character developed? Do you give in or turn to God?
Read: Zechariah 13:9; James 1:3-4
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 38:1-12; Luke 7:11-35; Numbers 23:27-30; Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26:1-11