Articles
Test Time!
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Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am" (Gen. 22:1).
"[God] fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end" (Deut. 8:16).
"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).
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Abraham had to sacrifice the beloved son of his old age. Israel was forced to trudge through a desolate wilderness to get to their Promised Land. Satan was granted license to rob Job of everything that was dear to him, plunging this good man into a nightmare of torture.
In all three accounts, the suffering is described as a test of the sufferers--and these are just a sampling of the many times the Bible describes God testing His people with adversity.
Our initial reaction to these stories is to question God's character. What kind of moral monster would deliberately subject those He loves to this kind of hardship and suffering? When the pain touches us directly, it is no longer an academic concern, but a very personal one. It's not fair! Why won't God remove the pain?!
But step back and take a larger perspective of the problem, and it starts to make sense.
When we seek out physicians to heal our bodies, who do we look for? Not back-alley quacks, but professionals who have successfully endured years of medical school and internships--individuals who have been tested to certify their competency.
The best soldiers are those who have been trained for the job. Navy SEALS, for example, share stories of the "Hell Week" that washes out all but the best candidates. The result of that testing process is a cadre of professional warriors who have served our nation well.
Parents (at least those who have a clue what they are doing) also recognize the need for bringing hardship into the lives of their kids. Children who never experience the affliction of discipline, who grow up pampered and coddled by "loving" parents who can't bear to see their little darlings disappointed, grow up to be maladjusted adults. They were never tested, so they never learned the value of self-discipline.
James summarizes well the need for adversity in our lives: "The testing of your faith produces patience" (Jas. 1:3). We cannot always understand God's plan behind the difficulties we encounter along life's path, but we can know His intent: We are being tested, and someday, like Job, we "shall come forth as gold."
Life's tough. Stop complaining about it, buckle down, and finish the test!
--David
