The rewards of obedience are awesome, but sometimes the process is agonising. ‘Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him’ (v.8-9 NLT). Before God promotes us to a position of usefulness in His service, He qualifies us. We admire Abraham’s faith when he took his son Isaac up Mount Moriah and laid him on the altar, trusting God even though his heart was breaking.

But the story doesn’t make sense until we read the first verse in the chapter: ‘Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham’ (Genesis 22:1 NKJV). God tested Abraham’s faith and obedience. And when he passed the test, God told him, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants’ (Genesis 22:17 NCV).

When we pray and ask God for success, we’re inviting Him to test our faith and obedience, so He knows we’re ready for that level of success. God probably won’t test us at the same level He tested Jesus or Abraham. But it’s the smaller tests that prepare us to handle the bigger assignments in God’s kingdom. In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis’ senior devil talks to his nephew Wormwood about their mutual enemy, the Lord. ‘Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.’ The obedience God wants from us today is obedience that rises above our feelings and circumstances and says, ‘Yes, Lord!’

What Now?

Have you been avoiding doing something that God’s asked you to do? Talk to Him about it, and be honest about why you’re unsure or worried about the task.