That’s the Test
How many times does God reveal himself to us, and we miss it? In the passage found in Genesis 18, Abraham does not recognize the strangers as God. He wasn’t stirred with a word from God or even a jolt of Holy Spirit goosebumps — all he sees are three travelers (whom many theologians believe to be the Trinity). These men are weary and thirsty, and Abraham presents an offer of food, rest, and water. This is a test of Abraham’s heart — God appears in such a commonplace way that Abraham is not aware of his identity. This was not a test he could study for or one he knew was coming — it was a test of the heart. In this case, Abraham was confronted with some simple situation.
We, too, are often confronted with similar simple situations:
You were relaxing at home, and the phone rang, and suddenly you are confronted with a call for help or a demand for a response — and you had planned to relax and enjoy yourself all afternoon — what happens then?
That’s the test.
You are busy around the house with your hands immersed in dishwater, and something is burning on the stove, and the refrigerator has just quit. The sink is stopped up, and you’ve got sixteen different problems on your mind, and your child comes up and asks you a question which is obviously of little importance, what do you do then?
That’s the test.
Your neighbor or friend gets sick, and somebody has to take care of the children — what do you do? What is your reaction?
That’s the test.
When visitors come into our church that does not look, smell, or even exhibit the things one could think of as “holy,” — how do we respond?
That’s the test.
When things are different, and we fill gaps of knowledge with suspicion instead of trust… That’s the test.
