The Ultimate Test

I was thinking about them today! (trials) wondering why we go through them. I had to ask myself the questions....Why do we have to endure them. Well as I was doing my daily reading of the Bible I came across the answer to my question. In Genesis there was a man maned Abraham. He was a pretty decent guy, Married ,one son, he lived a pretty normal life. But one day God tested Abraham's faith. He asked Him to take his only son,whom he loved An go to Moriah and sacrifice him. can you picture this? what are you thinking God how can you ask me to sacrifice my only son?? What kind of God are you? But what is amazing to me is that he never once questioned God. Not even a little bit. He just said ok I will do this because I am choosing to serve you lord and to do as you ask me. But let's remember his son. what was his son thinking? He thought he was just going along on a nice trip with his dad to worship god with a sacrifice. he had no idea that the sacrifice was going to be him. . He had no idea what was really going to happen. So when they got to the place were the lord told them to go, Isaac his son asks we have the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice? (Are you picturing this with me???) Isaac must have been a little bit nervous about what was going on don't you think?) get this Abraham's response was"God himself will provide the lamb" so Isaac must have thought "oh ok. we'll just wait here for the lamb" but then his own father bound him with rope and placed him on the altar that he had built. Isaac must have thought that his father had lost his mind. But there were no complaints (at least the Bible doesn't record it) right when Abrahan pulled out his knife and was just about ready to kill his own son he heard a voice calling his name. It was the angle of the Lord. The angle said to him "do not lay a hand on your son, do not do anything to him, Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." And then BAA BAA BAA!!! over in the thorns was a lamb. A sacrificial Lamb. slain in place of Isaac. I bet Isaac let out a big sigh of relief! As I am sure Abraham did too!! But the point is that God tests us sometimes . He does not tempt us but tests us. He wants our faith to be completely in Him. He doesn't want us to try to handle things on our own, because we mess it up. He wants us to have complete and utter faith in HIM. this was the ultimate test of one man's faith. He came out on top!! He passed the test with flying colors. Can we say that ? Do we depend on God to provide a lamb for us! I hope that I can pass God's testing of me what ever he brings my way I hope I can pass with flying colors.