The Tests of Faith

On the popular television series, "Touched by an Angel", people in various circumstances are in need of a faith-boost. Some have never really believed in the LORD. Some have been so challenged by life that they have replaced faith with fear. At some point in the story, one of the angels will supernaturally reveal their nature to the person and give them the message: "God is real, He exists. God loves you. He cares about your life" (a paraphrase). The basic issue for many people is to understand God's nature. Is He really a loving God -- how can I believe this when I am in such great need? Is He really just -- how can I believe when innocent children are hurt or killed? God does indeed love us and wants us to move forward in faith. The many trials and tests along the way are intended to strengthen our faith in Him.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 18:1-19:26
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Main Thought: God tests our faith, not to make things hard on us, but to prove to us His perfect character.

Since God created humans, only He can do the humanly impossible.

Since God knows everything, only He can enact perfect justice.

Since God is absolutely sovereign, only He can make righteous demands on your life.

1. Since God created humans, only He can do the humanly impossible.

"Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground...Then they said to him, 'Where is Sarah your wife?' So he said, 'Here, in the tent.' And He said, 'I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.' (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)...the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' 'Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.' But Sarah denied it, saying, 'I did not laugh,' for she was afraid. And He said, 'No, but you did laugh!'" (Genesis 18:1-2,9-10,13-15, NKJV)

It had been over twenty years since the LORD had originally spoken to Abraham the promise that he would make him a great nation with many descendants. Being childless is a frustrating, helpless feeling for so many people today. God understands. He understood what Abraham and Sarah were feeling. What God had promised was humanly impossible. Abraham was nearly 100 years old and Sarah was 90. They were long past the age of having children.

Here is the test of faith which God provided for these two godly individuals. God can do what is humanly impossible because He is God. He created all things (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:28, Rev. 4:11) and is perfectly capable of any miracle He ordains. God is all-powerful and can fulfill everything He has promised. Would Abraham and Sarah believe God in His promise?

The test for Sarah revealed her unbelief in God's omnipotent power. Her reply, "Can I have a child now that I am old and my husband too?" (Genesis 18:13, paraphrase) She even laughed sarcastically at the thought. It is one thing to be confused over what God will do or how God will work but quite another to disbelieve that He is powerful enough to make it happen. Sarah failed this particular test of faith. She was later rebuked by the LORD for lying about her laughter. (Genesis 18:15)

The test for Abraham revealed a response of faith. He responded to God's appearance with humility and honor. He listened to what the LORD said to him and accepted it. Abraham believed that God would be faithful to His promise.

Where are you on the journey of faith? Take a look at the bar below:

In this test, we see Abraham exercising faith and Sarah exercising fear. The two are at opposite ends. If you feel believe in God but lack the faith to trust Him, at least cry out like the man with the demon-possessed son who desparately sought his healing: "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:23-24, NKJV). This is a simple prayer though a humbling one -- LORD, I believe but help my unbelief! God does indeed love you and desires that you walk with in faith. He will even help you develop faith. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you -- that's a promise! (James 4:8)

2. Since God knows everything, only He can enact perfect justice.

"And the LORD said, 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.' Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, 'Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?'" (Genesis 18:20-25, NKJV)

Are you concerned about justice? Or have you become so disillusioned by a lack of justice that you have become indifferent to right and wrong? Abraham, the man of faith, was concerned about justice. "Far be it from You, the LORD to treat the righteous as though they were wicked, to destroy them unjustly!" (Genesis 18:25, paraphrase) God had revealed His plans to destroy the cities on the plain of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham was greatly distressed at this news. Consider how he approached this perplexing issue with God:

He recognized the LORD as the righteous Judge of all the earth. (Genesis 18:25)

He approached the LORD boldly based on the relationship God granted him by faith. (Genesis 18:22-23, 15:6)

He kept his place of humility before the LORD saying, "I am nothing but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27) and "May the LORD not be angry" (Genesis 18:30,32).

Six times He asked the LORD for mercy on account of the righteous people in that city. (Genesis 18:24,28,29,30,31,32)

Abraham's questions and intercessions to the LORD revealed an earnest desire to understand God's justice. Through this dialog, he probed the very character of God, whom he knew to be just in all His dealings with mankind. God eventually made a conditional promise to Abraham. If only ten righteous people were found, He would spare the whole area from destruction. Abraham was then satisfied with God's judgment.

Why was Abraham so concerned about justice? Certainly, he knew that his nephew, Lot, and Lot's family lived there. More than this, though, Abraham wanted to understand just how God's justice and mercy worked together. For if God exercised justice without mercy, we would all be in a great deal of trouble! Keep in mind -- God's mercy was granted to those who had turned to Him by faith, who loved Him, who believed in Him and His promise of a Savior. We have seen the fulfillment of His promised Savior -- Jesus Christ who is LORD of all. We have beheld His glory. (1 John 1:1-3)

3. Since God is absolutely sovereign, only He can make righteous demands on your life.

"Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, 'Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.' ... Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.'" (Genesis 19:1-2,4-5, NKJV)

What a filthy place in which to raise a family! The men of Sodom were of a totally depraved mind. This is the warning given in Scripture if we live according to the sinful desires of our heart. (Romans 1:18-32;8:5-8) These two angels were sent by God to assess the extent of wickedness. God, of course, knows everything at all times. The purpose here was to prove to all creatures just how degenerate this place had become -- to Lot and his family, to Abraham, to the angels, and to all of us who read this account. Therefore, God's demand for righteousness stands in stark contrast to the people of this city. God's righteous judgment is shown to be absolutely pure and right.

The test of faith for Lot came in God's demands on his life. God sent the angels to warn him about the judgment. This required Lot to leave this wicked place to escape God's punishment. God is absolutely sovereign over our lives. Was Lot willing to leave friends, home, possessions, and even his family if necessary to obey God's righteous demands on his life?

We know that Lot was a righteous man for the angels sent by God dealt mercifully with him to lead him out of the city. (Genesis 19:16-17) The Apostle Peter also confirms that Lot was a righteous man before God. (2 Peter 2:7-8)

Though Lot was living in a wicked place, 2 Peter reveals that he was daily tormented by the wicked things he saw and heard. (2 Peter 2:6-8)

Lot even lingered as the angels tried to get him to leave but eventually Lot left it all with his wife and two daughters. (Genesis 19:16-17)

Why did God ask Lot to leave everything? Sometimes the righteous life that God desires us to lead can require major adjustments. This was a hard transition for Lot. One must consider, though, the wisdom of Lot in living in such a place. We know from an earlier account, that Lot chose this area because it seemed to be such a materially prosperous place. Rather than seek the LORD's will, Lot chose for himself where to live. (Genesis 13:10-11) He started out living near the cities and eventually he lived within the city. Perhaps if he had followed the LORD's will earlier in life, like his uncle Abraham, Lot and his family would not have suffered so much. Because he was a child of God, God continued to work in his life to bring Lot forward in faith. This test was one that proved Lot's faith was genuine.

Contrast the faith of Lot with that of his wife and two daughters. The angel commanded them to leave the city and "Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed" (Genesis 19:17, NKJV). As they were leaving, "Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:16, NIV). Lot's wife longed to stay in the city she loved -- a love that was greater than her love for the LORD. Judgment was imminent; God's intervention to warn them was miraculous; the command to leave was clear and urgent. A look back to the city was a rejection of God's mercy. Lot's wife, in essence, agreed with the people of Sodom that their wickedness was good. Thus, she did remain in the city, destroyed for her unbelief.

Reflect on YOUR life: God, who is holy, has called us to a life of holiness. The Apostle Peter affirms to all of us what God revealed to the children of Israel: "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:45, NKJV). Indeed, the writer of Hebrews declares, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord"(Hebrews 12:14, NKJV). A holy God makes many righteous demands on our life. Are you willing to forsake wicked conduct -- wicked in the eyes of God -- and pursue righteousness which pleases God? God will test and try your faith in Him so that you can experience His best. Believe that God can do what is humanly impossible -- He can empower you by the Holy Spirit to live above the painful circumstances of life. Believe that He is absolutely just -- nothing will happen to you that does not first pass through the filter of His great love for you! Believe that He is absolutely sovereign over your life -- what He calls you to do may be hard but it is His best for you.

Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.Com

Copyright 1999, Randy Lariscy.