Abraham’s Test
If we meditate on the story of Abraham, we will learn how difficult it was for him to pass the test that the Lord gave him. The Lord said, “Abraham … 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 22:1, 2).
Abraham trembled when he first heard God’s command. God had promised that through Isaac he would father a mighty nation. All of Abraham’s hopes were set upon this miracle son given to him and Sarah in their old age. What made the test even harder is that Abraham didn’t understand why God would command him to kill his son. But Abraham obeyed God’s command and took his son Issac on the three-day trip to Moriah.
When they reached their destination Isaac said, “Father, we have what we need to start a fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” the broken hearted Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8).
When Abraham explained the reason for their mission, Isaac submitted to God’s command. With great anguish Abraham raised the knife to kill his son but suddenly he was stopped by an angel and was directed to sacrifice instead a wild ram that was trapped by its horns in a nearby thorn-bush (verse 13).
This very moving story told of a father who had to make the a painful decision to sacrifice his beloved son. This story resembled even much more the painful decision that the Creator Himself made when He sacrificed His innocent Son to save His sinful creatures (John 3:16).
Adam’s Test
Adam’s test was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and later not to listen to Eve. Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from all of the trees in the Garden of Eden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
So, in comparison, Adam’s test was much easier than Abraham test. But through the grace of God, Abraham was able to obey. God provides all the grace necessary for every person to overcome but it is up to us to accept His grace and appropriate it into our lives (1 John 5:4).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
