Testing
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· 4 viewsGod allows his people to pass through certain experiences, so that he may see, and prove to them, that their faith in him is genuine. Believers sometimes doubt God and test him, to see if he is true to his word, but this is forbidden in Scripture.
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God tests his people
God tests his people
Jas 1:2–3; 1 Pe 1:7
See also Job 7:17–18; Job 23:10; Ps 11:5; Is 1:25; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:3; Jas 1:12
Examples of God testing his people collectively
Examples of God testing his people collectively
Ex 16:4; Dt 8:2–3
See also Ex 20:20 at the giving of the law; Dt 8:16 over the gathering of manna; Dt 13:3–4 by their attitude to a false prophet; Jdg 2:20–3:4 by leaving nations in the promised land
Examples of God testing his people individually
Examples of God testing his people individually
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
He said, “Take 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.”
See also Jdg 7:4–7 Gideon; 2 Ch 32:31 Hezekiah; 2 Co 12:7–9 Paul
Jesus Christ tested the faith of people when he was on earth
Jesus Christ tested the faith of people when he was on earth
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
See also Mt 15:22–28 a Canaanite woman; Mk 8:17–21 his disciples
Believers have a responsibility to test the quality of their lives
Believers have a responsibility to test the quality of their lives
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
See also Ps 17:3
David prayed to God to test him:
David prayed to God to test him:
Ps 26:2; Ps 139:23
La 3:40; 2 Co 13:5; Ga 6:4; 1 Th 5:21
God will make a final test of believers’ lives and service
God will make a final test of believers’ lives and service
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—
each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
People may test God as an expression of faith and obedience
People may test God as an expression of faith and obedience
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
See also Jdg 6:39
People must not test God as an expression of doubt and disobedience
People must not test God as an expression of doubt and disobedience
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
See also Ex 17:7; Nu 14:22–23; Dt 6:16; Dt 33:8; Ps 78:18; Ps 78:41; Ps 78:56; Ps 95:8; Mt 4:7; Dt 6:16; Mt 19:3; Ac 5:9; Ac 15:10; Heb 3:8–9
The command to test the spirits
The command to test the spirits
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.