Real Faith gets tested

Heb 11:17

¶By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Heb 11:18

Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Heb 11:19

Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

This verse starts out, by faith Abraham, when he was tried. Notice it did not say if he was tried, or that he might be tried, no it states clearly that when he was tried.

God usually allows our faith to be tested not for His sake, He being all knowing (omniscient) already knows if we truly believe. All through the scriptures we see instances where God tests His people to show them what they truly possess or don't possess, or what the ground of truth they stand on is. We are extorted to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith, why? So we can "KNOW" who our God is and what we possess in Him! It is not enough to read the Bible as if it is entertaining stories, that is just religious. We need to understand the scriptures in the vein of what do we possess in Him as the children of God. God wants us to have an abundant life in Him, to often we do not. Not because God is flawed or His word is but because we do not receive or walk in what He has for us. In essence we don't believe Him.

The second part of this verse shows that Abraham really had learned the lesson, he truly believed that God Himself gave him this precious son. He was fully aware that Isaac was indeed a miracle supplied by God alone. Therefore if God Himself supplied me with the miracle and the miracle was based on the previous oath and covenant that in him (Isaac) all the nations of the world would be blessed I will trust Him because He has been absolutely faithful and true to His word every step of this journey.

The Last verse declares that Abraham was willing to trust God even to the point that He was able to raise Him from the dead if so needed. Do you see the pattern here, God talks to us directly, in Abraham's case in dreams and words. In our case through His word, The word comes alive to us, "Rhema", a revelation about something that God has been speaking to us or revealing to us and then we choose to have faith and believe Him in this matter. It is here we stop being supplicants asking God for something and start talking in the language of faith. We start thanking Him for His word, revelation, promise and thank you is the language we use when someone does something for us that we believe is already done because of the promise given to us. Hence here it is critical that we truly understand and perceive that we have heard from God. To often what passes for faith is just wishful thinking, or positive thinking, to many Christians never really hear from God and are just trying really hard in the flesh to believe in belief. When we have prayed through and received "a word" from God it is at this junction where faith, real faith begins. Then as we progress we are usually allowed testing and trial by fire that our faith can be refined and purified. Most often around this time God allows circumstances to look like the promise or dream will die or be taken away. Here is where at this junction that we must hold onto the promise of scripture that God revealed to us. Even though to the natural man it looks impossible that is where God begins to work for He alone can get the glory then. No wonder the disciples of Jesus asked him to increase their faith, let us like them be honest with our Lord about our doubts and ask Him to be pleased to reveal Himself to us afresh and anew!