Sister Tarpley: Testing for Obedience

By: Sister Tarpley, NDG Religion Editor

“Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2). 

Throughout the Old Testament, we see many situations in which God tests His people in order to determine if they will follow Him or follow the systems of this world.

The nation of Israel was tested many times during the 40-year sojourn in the wilderness:  “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years; to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2). 

One might ask, “Why does God need to test us?   Doesn’t He know everything, including what we would do in every situation?”  Yes, God knows – but we don’t know ourselves!  

God doesn’t test us in order to find out something He doesn’t already know.  He tests us so that we can learn about ourselves and His love, power, and faithfulness.

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac on a mountain in the land of Moriah.  Isaac was Abraham’s only son by his wife Sarah – the son God had promised to Abraham.  

By demanding that Isaac be sacrificed, God seemed to be nullifying His covenant of making a great nation of Abraham.  How could God’s promise be fulfilled if Isaac was dead? 

God tested Abraham to reveal whether or not Abraham truly trusted His promise. Yes, God knew what Abraham would do, but He wanted Abraham to know as well.  So God put Abraham to the test, and Abraham passed. 

As Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his own son, God stopped him and provided a sacrificial ram instead.

Every test involves obedience in one way or another.  When God tests us, He reveals the true state of our hearts.  Are we obedient to His will, or are we self-willed? We might think we know the answer, but we would never truly know unless we were tested. 

God has instructed Christians to not be anxious, worrisome, overly concerned for anything . . . but instead to bring everything to Him in prayer and thanksgiving.  If we do this, He has promised us that His peace, which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). 

Christians go to God for themselves and on behalf of their brothers and sisters in Christ, and for those who suffer so much due to anxiety and depression.  Pray that God will fill Christians with His peace; that He will touch Christian’s minds and remind them that they do not need to worry. 

God is the way and the way-maker.  He will handle it for us. Worrying does no good.  May we lean on God and talk with Him, spend time in His Word and before the throne of grace. 

Ask God to help us fellowship with other Christians, those who will encourage us, even more so the day approaches.  Right now, this day, let us give God our concerns and ask that He will work out all to our good and His glory. 

Thank God for loving us and carrying our burdens.  Thank Him for providing our needs. Thank God for Jesus Christ our Savior and the hope He has given us; for it is in the precious Name of Jesus that we pray.