親愛的家人，平安。
昨天我們在創世記21章看見，神多年來對亞伯拉罕的應許終於成就，以撒出生了。這讓我們看見，神不是忘記人的神；即使等候很長，祂仍然按著祂的時間成就祂所說的話。
但是到了創世記22章，經文的氣氛突然轉變。神賜下以撒之後，卻吩咐亞伯拉罕把以撒獻上。這對亞伯拉罕來說，不只是失去兒子的考驗，更是觸碰他信心最深之處的試驗。因為以撒不只是他的兒子，也是神應許的記號。
創世記22:1說：
「這些事以後，神要試驗亞伯拉罕，就呼叫他說：亞伯拉罕！他說：我在這裡。」
這裡要分清楚：神會試驗人，但神不會試探人犯罪。
試探，是引誘人離開神、犯罪、跌倒；試驗，是神讓人生命裡真實的信心、敬畏和順服被顯明出來。
所以，創世記22章不是神要傷害亞伯拉罕，而是神要帶領他進入更深的信靠。神不是要奪走亞伯拉罕的祝福，而是要讓亞伯拉罕知道：真正可信靠的，不是祝福本身，而是賜祝福的神。
- 聽見神呼喚，先不要誤會神
創世記22:1說，神要試驗亞伯拉罕，並呼叫他：「亞伯拉罕！」亞伯拉罕回答：「我在這裡。」
面對試驗時，亞伯拉罕沒有先逃避，沒有先控訴，也沒有先把神看成要傷害他的神。他先站在神面前，仍然願意聽神、回應神、跟隨神。
今天我們也會遇到一些不容易明白的事情：家庭的壓力、孩子的問題、工作的挑戰、身體的軟弱，或內心的不安。
當這些事情發生時，我們很容易誤會神，以為神不愛我們，以為神要拿走我們的祝福，以為神正在為難我們。
但神的試驗不是為了推倒我們，而是為了帶我們更深認識祂。
當我們能夠在試驗中仍然對神說：「主啊，我在這裡」，我們的心就不容易被恐懼、誤會和埋怨帶走，而是能夠重新站在神面前，學習聽祂、信祂、跟隨祂。
- 交出最愛，學習信靠神
創世記22:7-8記載，以撒問亞伯拉罕：
「火與柴都有了，但燔祭的羊羔在哪裡呢？」
亞伯拉罕回答：
「我兒，神必自己預備作燔祭的羊羔。」
以撒是亞伯拉罕多年等候的兒子，是神應許的成就，也是他心中最寶貴的愛。
我們每個人心中也可能有自己的「以撒」：孩子、家庭、工作、身份、財務、安全感、計劃、夢想，甚至是神曾經賜給我們的祝福。
這些本身不是錯的，因為以撒本來就是神所賜的祝福。但問題是，當祝福成為我們比神更想抓住的倚靠時，神就會帶領我們學習：真正可信靠的，不是祝福本身，而是賜祝福的神。
亞伯拉罕不是因為知道所有答案才順服，而是在還沒有看見羊羔的時候，仍然相信神會有祂的預備。
今天神也帶領我們學習，把最愛、最怕失去、最想控制、最不敢放手的交給祂。不是因為這些不重要，而是因為神比這些更值得信靠。
- 等候預備，看見耶和華以勒
創世記22:11-14記載，當亞伯拉罕伸手拿刀的時候，神親自呼叫他，攔阻他，並預備一隻公羊代替以撒。
亞伯拉罕就給那地方起名叫「耶和華以勒」，意思是「耶和華必預備」。
很多時候，我們在人生試驗中最難的地方，就是神的預備還沒有顯明。
我們看見柴，看見火，看見山，看見要走的路，卻還沒有看見羊羔。
我們看見問題，看見壓力，看見不確定，看見自己無法掌控的局面，卻還沒有看見神怎樣開路。
但創世記22章告訴我們：亞伯拉罕還沒有看見之前，神已經預備；亞伯拉罕還在路上的時候，神的公羊已經在神安排的位置。
所以，不要因為還沒有看見出路，就認定神沒有預備；不要因為事情還沒有改變，就以為神沒有工作；不要因為試驗很深，就以為神不愛我們。
在耶和華的山上必有預備。
總結
創世記22章讓我們看見，神會試驗人，但神不試探人犯罪。
試探是要人離開神；試驗卻是要人的信心被顯明、生命被煉淨、敬畏被建立。
亞伯拉罕不是因為沒有痛苦所以能順服，而是在最深的試驗中，仍然相信神是可信的。
今天，神也要帶領我們在試驗中更深信靠祂。當我們不再誤會神，願意把最寶貴的交給神，並在還沒有看見出路時仍然相信神的預備，我們就會在生命的山上遇見耶和華以勒。
追求
今天讓我們安靜在神面前思想：
我是否在試驗中很容易誤會神？
我是否把神所賜的祝福，看得比神自己更重要？
我生命中有沒有一些「以撒」，是我很想抓住、不願交託、害怕失去的？
我是否在還沒有看見出路時，就開始焦慮、控制、埋怨，或用自己的方法處理？
今天，讓我們重新對神說：
主啊，我在這裡。
即使我還不完全明白，我仍然願意信靠祢。
我相信祢不是試探我的神，祢是煉淨我、帶領我、預備我的神。
求祢幫助我把最寶貴的交給祢，並相信祢是耶和華以勒。
祢看見，祢顧念，祢也必預備。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 22
1 這些事以後，上帝要考驗亞伯拉罕，就呼喚他：「亞伯拉罕！」他回答說：「我在這裡。」 2 上帝說：「帶著你的兒子，你的獨生子，你疼愛的以撒前往摩利亞，在我指示你的山上把他獻為燔祭。」 3 亞伯拉罕清早起來，準備好驢，劈好獻燔祭用的柴，帶著兩個僕人和兒子以撒動身前往上帝指示他的地方。 4 到了第三天，亞伯拉罕遠遠看見那地方， 5 就對僕人說：「你們和驢在這裡等著，我和孩子到那邊敬拜上帝，然後便回來。」
6 於是，亞伯拉罕把獻燔祭用的柴放在兒子以撒肩上，自己手裡拿著火種和刀。父子二人一同向前走。 7 以撒說：「父親。」亞伯拉罕說：「孩子，什麼事？」以撒說：「你看，火種和柴都有了，但獻燔祭用的羊羔在哪裡呢？」 8 亞伯拉罕說：「孩子，上帝自己會預備獻燔祭的羊羔。」二人就繼續向前走。
9 他們到了上帝指示的地方，亞伯拉罕就築起祭壇，把柴擺在上面，然後把以撒捆起來放在柴上。 10 亞伯拉罕伸手拿起刀來，要殺他的兒子。 11 耶和華的天使從天上呼喚他說：「亞伯拉罕！亞伯拉罕！」他回答說：「我在這裡。」 12 天使說：「不要動孩子，不可傷害他！現在我知道你敬畏上帝，因為你不惜獻上你的兒子——你的獨生子。」 13 這時亞伯拉罕抬起頭來，突然看見有一隻公綿羊兩角卡在稠密的樹叢中，於是把羊取來代替他的兒子獻為燔祭。 14 亞伯拉罕稱那地方為「耶和華以勒」。直到今天人們還說：「在耶和華的山上必有預備。」
15 耶和華的天使再次從天上呼喚亞伯拉罕， 16 對他說：「耶和華說，『你既然願意把你的兒子，你的獨生子獻給我，我憑自己向你起誓， 17 我必賜福給你，使你的後裔多如天上的星和海邊的沙。你的後裔必佔領仇敵的城池， 18 天下萬國必因你的後裔而蒙福，因為你聽從了我的話。』」 19 於是，亞伯拉罕回到僕人等候的地方，他們一同返回亞伯拉罕居住的別示巴。
20 後來，有人告訴亞伯拉罕：「密迦為你的兄弟拿鶴生了幾個兒子， 21 長子烏斯、烏斯的弟弟布斯、亞蘭的父親基姆利、 22 基薛、哈瑣、必達、益拉和利百加的父親彼土利。」 23 密迦為亞伯拉罕的兄弟拿鶴生了八個兒子。 24 拿鶴的妾流瑪生了提八、迦含、他轄和瑪迦。
Dear family, peace to you.
Yesterday, in Genesis 21, we saw that God finally fulfilled His long-promised word to Abraham. Isaac was born. This reminds us that God does not forget His people. Even when the waiting is long, He still fulfils His word in His perfect time.
But when we come to Genesis 22, the atmosphere changes suddenly. After God gave Isaac to Abraham, He asked Abraham to offer Isaac back to Him. For Abraham, this was not only a test about losing his son. It touched the deepest place of his faith, because Isaac was not only his son; Isaac was also the sign of God’s promise.
Genesis 22:1 says:
“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”
Here we need to understand something clearly: God tests people, but God does not tempt people to sin.
Temptation draws people away from God, into sin and darkness. Testing reveals what is truly inside our hearts: our faith, our fear of God, and our obedience.
So Genesis 22 is not about God trying to harm Abraham. It is about God leading Abraham into deeper trust. God was not trying to take Abraham’s blessing away from him. God was helping Abraham see that the One who gives the blessing is more trustworthy than the blessing itself.
- Hear God’s Call, and Do Not Misunderstand Him
Genesis 22:1 says that God tested Abraham and called him, “Abraham!” Abraham answered, “Here I am.”
When Abraham faced this test, he did not first run away. He did not first accuse God. He did not first see God as someone who wanted to hurt him. He stood before God and remained willing to listen, respond, and follow.
Today, we may also face things that are difficult to understand: pressure in the family, concerns about our children, challenges at work, weakness in the body, or unrest in the heart.
When these things happen, it is easy to misunderstand God. We may think God does not love us, or that He wants to take away our blessing, or that He is making things difficult for us.
But God’s testing is not meant to destroy us. It is meant to lead us to know Him more deeply.
When we can still say to God in the middle of testing, “Lord, here I am,” our hearts will not be easily carried away by fear, misunderstanding, or complaint. Instead, we can stand before God again and learn to listen to Him, trust Him, and follow Him.
- Surrender What You Love Most, and Learn to Trust God
Genesis 22:7-8 says that Isaac asked Abraham:
“Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
Abraham answered:
“My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
Isaac was the son Abraham had waited for many years. He was the fulfilment of God’s promise. He was also the one Abraham loved deeply.
Each of us may also have an “Isaac” in our hearts: our children, family, work, identity, finances, security, plans, dreams, or even blessings that God has given us.
These things are not wrong. Isaac himself was a blessing from God. But when the blessing becomes something we hold on to more tightly than God Himself, God will lead us to learn a deeper lesson: what is truly trustworthy is not the blessing itself, but the God who gives the blessing.
Abraham did not obey because he already knew every answer. He obeyed while he still could not see the lamb. Yet he still believed that God would provide.
Today, God also leads us to surrender what we love most, what we are most afraid to lose, what we most want to control, and what we find hardest to release. Not because these things are unimportant, but because God is more worthy of our trust than all these things.
- Wait for God’s Provision, and See Jehovah Jireh
Genesis 22:11-14 records that when Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife, God called to him from heaven, stopped him, and provided a ram in place of Isaac.
Abraham called that place “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “The LORD will provide.”
Very often, the hardest part of testing is that God’s provision has not yet appeared.
We can see the wood, the fire, the mountain, and the road ahead, but we have not yet seen the lamb.
We can see the problem, the pressure, the uncertainty, and the things we cannot control, but we have not yet seen how God will open the way.
But Genesis 22 tells us this: before Abraham saw it, God had already provided. While Abraham was still walking on the road, the ram was already in the place God had prepared.
So do not think God has not provided just because you have not yet seen the way out. Do not think God is not working just because the situation has not yet changed. Do not think God does not love you just because the test feels deep.
On the mountain of the LORD, it shall be provided.
Summary
Genesis 22 shows us that God tests people, but He does not tempt people to sin.
Temptation draws people away from God. Testing reveals faith, refines life, and builds holy reverence.
Abraham was not able to obey because he had no pain. He obeyed because, in the deepest test, he still believed that God was trustworthy.
Today, God also wants to lead us to trust Him more deeply through testing. When we stop misunderstanding God, when we are willing to surrender what is most precious to Him, and when we still believe in His provision before we see the way out, we will meet Jehovah Jireh on the mountain of our lives.
Reflection
Today, let us quietly reflect before God:
Do I easily misunderstand God when I am being tested?
Do I treasure the blessings God has given me more than God Himself?
Is there an “Isaac” in my life that I want to hold on to, refuse to surrender, or fear losing?
Do I begin to worry, control, complain, or use my own way when I still cannot see the way out?
Today, let us say to God again:
Lord, here I am.
Even though I do not fully understand, I still choose to trust You.
I believe You are not the God who tempts me, but the God who refines me, leads me, and provides for me.
Help me surrender what is most precious to You, and help me believe that You are Jehovah Jireh.
You see, You care, and You will provide.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Genesis 22
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
20 Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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