The trials of saints, as they come from God, are generally if not always intimately connected with the position grace gives. God in His sovereignty calls His saints to fill various places of service; some to rule and authority, some to teaching or preaching, others the place of suffering and weeping. But all are for the carrying out of one great purpose — the accomplishment of God’s will, of which each saint has his part. God has a niche in His temple for each, a place assigned by grace. It is there each is tested. But if grace appoints the place, it is always there to maintain saints in it. Sometimes, through our lack of faith, the trial appears to hide the grace, and then we complain and murmur. “But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Other Trials
There are other trials which have their root in our unfaithfulness. Although He does not directly send them, God permits them, and He surely controls and guides to a gracious result. Such trials become rods in His chastening hand, but when God sends trial to a faithful saint, it is for the purpose of proving faith, which is more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, and of giving further lessons in the school of faith. The fruitful branch is purged that it may bring forth more fruit. More fruit is God’s object. Things hidden and unknown may be in the heart of the faithful and therefore are unjudged. The trial is sent to disclose the hidden thing that it may be purged. Not all trials are chastisements. We should gravely err if we thought every suffering saint to be under discipline through failure. Where there is faithfulness, we often see what appears to be heaviest trials, but in truth it is for the display of the sustaining power of grace that others may see and learn.
Faith
Evidently such is the lesson taught as in Genesis 22. Faith was never put to a severer test, whether we look at the affection of the father or the obedience of the saint. God did test Abraham, not because of previous failure, but that he might be a witness of that faith which rises above death. Death has nothing to say to faith, except that death has been overcome. The natural man lives in the region of death. Faith enters this region and the scene is changed. Christ has overcome the power of death, and faith in Him gives us to share in His victory. We see the ravages of death around us, but as a penalty we are beyond its reach. The natural man bears the stamp of death; the believer, that of eternal life. No example in the Old Testament more shows the power of faith over death than that of Abraham. But this is also true Christian faith.
Victory Over Circumstances Through Faith
We take an instance of faith under trial from the New Testament; not the victory of faith over death, but over circumstances. The thorn in the flesh was a heavy trial to Paul. It was not sent because of failure, but because of the abundance of his revelation. There was danger lest the flesh should boast, and God gives him a thorn. He prayed thrice for its removal. God tells him that His grace is sufficient, that there is no need to remove it, and moreover that his infirmity was but an occasion for the power of Christ to rest upon him. Then he glories in that which he had prayed God to take away. Christ was exalted and Paul was content. Here is the “more fruit,” God’s object in sending the thorn; no failure and needed chastening here, but a lesson of grace to an honored servant of Christ.
Bible Treasury (adapted)