Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled The Testing was written by Wyn Collier.

The first time I took my sons to hike a Colorado 14er, a mountain with an elevation of at least 14,000 feet.

They were nervous. Could they make it? Were they up to the challenge? My youngest stopped on the

trail for extended breaks. Dad, I can't go anymore, he said repeatedly. But I believed this test

would be good for them, and I wanted them to trust me. A mile from the

peak, my son, who'd insisted he could go no further, caught his second wind and beat us to the

summit. He was so glad he trusted me, even amid his fears. I marvel at the trust Isaac had in his

father as they climbed their mountain in Genesis

chapter 22.

Far more, I'm undone by the trust Abraham had in God as he raised his knife over his son.

Even with his confused and wrenching heart, Abraham obeyed.

Mercifully, an angel stopped him. Do not lay a hand on the boy, God's messenger

declared in verse 12. God never intended for Isaac to die. As we draw parallels from this unique story

to our own with caution, it's crucial to note the opening line. God tested Abraham. Through his test, Abraham learned how

much he trusted God. He discovered his loving heart and profound provision. In our confusion,

darkness, and testing, we learn truths about ourselves and about God. And we may even find that our testing leads to a deeper trust in Him.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Genesis chapter 22 verses 1 through 3 and verses 6 through 12

sometime later god tested abraham he said to him Abraham here i am he replied then god said

take your son your only son whom you love is Isaac, and go to the region of Mariah.

Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.

Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey.

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