Discover The Word

Thursday, November 30, 2006, Part 1

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

IDEA: God gives us our tests when we are ready to take them.

PURPOSE: To help listeners appreciate that God does not give us tests that we are completely unable to pass.

Do you remember when you learned long-division?

It is one of the more difficult concepts that children have to tackle.

Before reaching 4th grade I was tormented with the thought that I would have to learn long division and I knew nothing about it.

I. God gives us tests when we are able to take them.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Do you think this assurance applied to Abraham’s test/temptation to sacrifice his son?

Do you think that we are always aware of the “way of escape” when testing first comes to us?

Abraham probably could not have handled this great test earlier in his life.

While still in Ur of Chaldees, Abraham didn’t get an “A” on his response to God’s call.

He was told to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house and go to a land God would show him (Genesis 12:1).

Abraham gets credit for responding right away, but did he answer God’s call completely?

Abraham’s obedience was partial. He didn’t leave his kindred. He took his father, Terah, with him as well as his nephew Lot. They traveled only as far as Haran and they settled down there approximately 15 years.

While in Egypt Abraham didn’t get high grades for the way he handled what he believed was a threat on his life.

He was willing to risk Sarah’s virtue to protect himself. In fact, he was willing to risk the promised seed when he started out from Ur.

What did Abraham learn about God through this experience in Egypt?

II. Abraham’s faith grew as he engaged God personally (Genesis 15:6), and Abraham believed the Lord and God accounted it to him for righteousness.

It became the practice of Abraham to believe God.

After a rocky journey, Sarah at 90 conceived and gave birth to a baby boy. The miracle apparently overwhelmed both Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7).

What do you think that Abraham and Sarah learned about God as a result of having this child?

III. God was faithful to Abraham in order that Abraham would learn to be faithful to God.