Genesis 22:1

2007.Dec.03 03:02

The Test

Read Genesis 22:1 | Full Chapter

I’m going to start this entry not by quoting the principal passage–as I am accustomed–but with another passage. It will make sense later.

The LORD had not spoken to Samuel before, and Samuel did not recognize the voice. When the LORD called out his name for the third time, Samuel went to Eli again and said, “Here I am. What do you want?” Eli finally realized that it was the LORD who was speaking to Samuel.
(1 Samuel 3:7-8, CEV)

Yahweh had twice before that night awoken Samuel. Each time, Samuel assumed it was Eli, the priest, calling him. He did not realize that the voice was that of Yahweh, because God “had not spoken to [him] before.” Fortunately, Yahweh began speaking to Samuel when someone else, Eli, was around who could help Samuel figure out what was going on.

I bring this up because recognizing God’s voice is required for understanding personally specific commands.

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
(Genesis 22:1, NLT)

Abraham doesn’t have to wonder whose voice he’s hearing, because he knows God’s voice. And Abraham responds.

In this passage, God is testing Abraham’s faith, by asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. There’s a lot that will go on with that, but if Abraham didn’t know the voice of Yahweh or didn’t respond, the test would have never gone anywhere.

I’ve heard a lot about learning to recognize God’s voice. It boils down to 1) read the Bible, 2) pray (stopping to listen at times), and 3) having good relationships with other Christians who are willing to tell you when something you think is from God is not Biblically sound. You have to know God’s voice, the kind of things he says, and you have to listen to him, or your faith can’t get very far.