Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Test of Faith,”

pp. 145–155, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “Praise Ye the Lord,” pp.

315–319, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5.

“God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in

the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of

the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed

to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love.

It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees

that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His

work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings

them into positions that test their character. . . . He shows them their own

weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him. . . . Thus His object is

attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill

the grand purpose for which their powers were given them.”—Ellen

G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 129, 130.

“If in the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let

us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a

Father’s hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness

as well as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us every-

thing that is for our good? . . . Even in the night of affliction how can

we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember

the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary?”—Ellen G. White,

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 316.

Discussion Questions:

Ê In class, have someone recount his or her own test of faith that,

if not quite as intense as Abraham’s, was still hard enough. What

can you learn from that person’s experience, from his or her suc-

cesses or failures?

Ë Review the last 24 hours of Christ’s life before His crucifixion.

What extremes did He face? How did He endure? What principles

can we take from His example and apply for ourselves when we

are in the midst of our own crucibles?

Ì Discuss the idea, touched on this week, about how through our

own suffering we can minister to others who are suffering. No

matter how true it might be, what are some of the problems we

might encounter with this idea?

Í Ellen G. White wrote above: “Let us trust Him in the darkness

as well as in the day.” That’s easier said than done. How can we

help each other develop the kind of faith that will enable us to do

just that? Why is it important to trust God in the bad times?