God Is the One Who Tests Us [Isaiah 47-48]

Isaiah 48:
10"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
         I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
    11"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
         For how can My name be profaned?
         And My glory I will not give to another.
17Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
         "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit,
         Who leads you in the way you should go.

The more I read the Old Testament, the more amazed I am about God.  My mind has had Him in such a small box for most of my life.  In the last 15 years as I have been purposefully reading Scripture to see who He is, that box has expanded and it keeps expanding.  Today I see that He tests in the furnace of affliction because He will not give His glory to someone else.

For the last two weeks our Sunday School class has been looking at all the verses that talk about testing.  Over and over the verses confirm that it is God who tests His people.  (If you want to search this out look up the references at the bottom of this page.)   This is really incredible because I have spent a lifetime attributing testing to the devil. (I was giving His glory to another!) But the scripture is really clear - it is God who tests us.  In the New Testament God adds that when our faith is tested He is calling us to rejoice!  When it is tested, even by fire, our faith will be proven and "may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7)  As God purifes our faith, Christ is revealed in us.

We praise You, Holy One of Israel, that You are the One who tests us. You bring to the surface the things that are keeping us from reflecting You accurately so that Your name will not be profaned.  Thank You for redeeming, teaching and leading us in the way we should go.

*Exodus 15:22-26, Deuteronomy 8:1-3, Psalm 11:4=5. Proverbs 17:3, Ecclesiastes 3:18-19, Jeremiah 20:12

 

Verna McCrillis, 11/24/2009
Feedback:
Jack William 12/26/2020 00:39
It makes me think about all the challenges and obstacles we should overcome through life. I think it is true God is the only one who tests us every day and in every moment. The https://www.rushmyessay.com/ share some quick points about it along with their writing service.
(Guest) 03/29/2021 09:11
Interesting.