Some time 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—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

• Genesis 22:1-2

He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

• Deuteronomy 8:16

Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

• Psalm 17:3

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
    against the man who is close to me!”
    declares the Lord Almighty.
“Strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep will be scattered,
    and I will turn my hand against the little ones.
In the whole land,” declares the Lord,
    “two-thirds will be struck down and perish;
    yet one-third will be left in it.
This third I will put into the fire;
    I will refine them like silver
    and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
    and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

• Zechariah 13:7-9

Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

• Luke 8:13

Often, we say that we put something to the test.  But God tests us, and we test God.  In this case the quiz is a quiz about testing.

Each question refers to a time of testing.  The questions are in biblical order.

All verses come from the NIV.

The Questions:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	What was Joseph’s stated reason for testing his brothers when they came to Egypt to buy grain?	Genesis 42:9	He claimed they were spies, but he wanted to see if his brothers had matured, becoming honest men.  Joseph retained Simeon and told them they could not return unless Benjamin was with them.
2	In two consecutive chapters of Exodus, God tests the faith of the people.  Each time, He tests to see if they will follow simple instructions.  What are the two things he provides that become tests?	Exodus 15:25 and Exodus 16:4	He provides water that is bitter, but then is made good to drink.  And he begins the provision of manna.  The water test is that they will not grow thirsty if they keep his commandments.  There were specific rules with the manna.  Hoarding manna led to spoilage overnight, except on the Sabbath when they always gathered a double portion the day before.
3	Soon after the tests of the previous question, they are thirsty and no water was available where they camped.  What did God tell Moses to do to obtain water?  Bonus: In what way were they testing God?	Exodus 17:1-7	Moses was to take some elders and strike a rock and water would come forth.  They had tested God by questioning whether God was with them.
4	When God spoke the Ten Commandments, the people heard the thunder and lightning and the trumpets.  They told Moses to have God talk to Moses, for they were afraid of hearing God directly and dying.  Moses proclaim that they should have the fear of God for what reason?	Exodus 20:20	God had come to test them, and the fear of God would keep them from sin.
5	Before Othniel, the first judge, arises to rescue the people, God uses other nations to test them.  In the list of other nations, God mentions the Canaanites that had not been defeated, but three other nations, one with five rulers.  Who are any of these three nations?	Judges 3:1-3	The five rulers of the Philistines, the Sidonians, and the Hivites that come from Lebanon.
6	After Peter proclaimed that someone had tested the Holy Spirit, the person Peter talked to died.  Who died and for what reason?	Acts 5:9	Ananias and later his wife Sapphira.  They conspired to sell property and only give a portion to the church, but claim they gave the full price.
7	Paul tells the Galatians that we should never compare ourselves to others, but we should test whom and for what purpose?	Galatians 6:4	Themselves individually with no comparison to others before taking pride in ourselves.
8	Paul and John both tell us to test against false teaching, but what they say to test differs.  What do we test in each case?	1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 and 1 John 4:1	Paul tells the Thessalonians to test the prophets, all of them.  John says to test the spirits from whom the prophets give their prophecy.  Basically testing to see if what the prophets are saying is consistent with God’s Word in either case.
9	Why does Peter say to not be surprised but to rejoice when tested by fiery trials?	1 Peter 4:12-13	You are participating in the sufferings of Christ Jesus.
10	In the seven letters to the churches, one church is told that some of them will be placed in prison by the devil to test them, but another church will be spared from the hour of trial coming to the whole earth.  Who are either of these churches?	Revelation 2:10 and Revelation 3:10	Smyrna to have some in prison and Philadelphia to be spared.

The first featured Scripture is where God tested Abraham.  Yes, He tells Abraham to take Isaac to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him, but there was no intention of that ever occurring.  When Isaac was born, it was a miracle considering how Sarah had been barren for ninety years and Abraham was more than one hundred years old.  The promise had been promised to Abraham through Isaac.

So, for Abraham to do as God had said was a monumental test.  It is thought Isaac was old enough to defend himself, but Isaac only questioned what his father was doing.  But then there was a ram caught in the bushes, and the ram was used for the sacrifice.

In Levitical Law, Leviticus 20:2-5 it was specifically forbidden to sacrifice children to Molech.  The person doing so would be killed.  In Jeremiah 32:35, God said that He abhorred the concept of doing this.  The expression of “never entering His mind”, possibly stemming from the penalty being so great, how could man become that corrupt?

Bible References:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	But I tell you, ___ and pray for those who persecute you,	Matthew 5:44
2	And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, ____; with you I am well pleased.”	Mark 1:11
3	“If you love those ____, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.	Luke 6:32
4	“A new command I give you: ____. As I have loved you, so you must ____.	John 13:34
5	neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us ____ of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.	Romans 8:39
6	If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do ____, I gain nothing.	1 Corinthians 13:3
7	For ____ us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.	2 Corinthians 5:14
8	But the fruit of the Spirit ____, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,	Galatians 5:22
9	Husbands, ____, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her	Ephesians 5:25
10	then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having ____, being one in spirit and of one mind.	Philippians 2:2

We are tested by God, and the way I see it is that if God is testing us, He plans on using us.

Can we withstand the test?

For some people, the slightest thing can be an unbearable test.

I think my wife’s ability to withstand great amounts of pain and not let that pain show in her moaning or facial features contorting was due to the tests she had already endured.  The nurse asks you what the pain level is on a scale from 1 to 10.  My wife never said a number greater than a five until she had the heart attacks, and those not at a ten.  And I have noticed that what I might call a seven or eight twenty years ago, would get a three or four today.  I have even told a nurse that I have two scales, and aches are less than the one on the pain scale, and what I am experiencing is not a ten on the ache scale.  They smile and nod.  I have no idea what they wrote down in their notes.

God prepares us for the more strenuous and painful tests.  He wants us to genuinely praise Him and rejoice when those tests come.

   …

   …

   …

The Answers:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	But I tell you, ___ and pray for those who persecute you,	Matthew 5:44	Love your enemies
2	And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, ____; with you I am well pleased.”	Mark 1:11	Whom I love
3	“If you love those ____, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.	Luke 6:32	Who love you
4	“A new command I give you: ____. As I have loved you, so you must ____.	John 13:34	Love one another
5	neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us ____ of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.	Romans 8:39	From the love
6	If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do ____, I gain nothing.	1 Corinthians 13:3	Not have love
7	For ____ us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.	2 Corinthians 5:14	Christ’s love compels
8	But the fruit of the Spirit ____, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,	Galatians 5:22	Is love, joy
9	Husbands, ____, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her	Ephesians 5:25	Love your wives
10	then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having ____, being one in spirit and of one mind.	Philippians 2:2	The same love

Whether you did well on this quiz or, ummm, not so well, for the first video, here is Unspoken singing God Help Me.  We hear and feel the singer’s pain, but he is passing the test.  Who does he go to?  From where does he search for the power to make it through this test?  “Jesus, you are faithful and able, and you never once let me down.”

Here are the Afters singing I Will Fear No More.

Here is Jon Reddick singing No Fear.

Here is Melody St. Clair Randazzo with Greg Howlett singing All the Way my Savior Leads Me.

Why does God test us?  May answer that with a question?  To whom do you turn when everything crashes around you?  If the answer is Jesus, expect more tests, for you did not fail the first one.  Why does God allow this to happen?  That response is like a muscle, it needs its exercise.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.