We were reminded in Genesis 20 that the Lord is merciful and gracious. Sometimes He gives us a symbol to remind us that He is merciful and gracious.

But He is also mysterious—His ways are not our ways. Sometimes His ways confound us. Sometimes, His ways seem to contradict His character. He has His own purposes. The Lord gives…and then takes away—sometimes without any explanation. Still, sometimes we wonder, “God, how could You be good and allow this to happen?”

In those moments, at those times, our faith and trust and belief that God is good and worthy to be obeyed is tested.

Will you still trust Him? Will you still love Him? Will you still obey Him…even if you don’t understand Him?

Abraham, who has failed in trusting God…in loving God…in obeying God…will encounter another test in Genesis 21. What is it that God is going to ask of Abraham? What is the significance? And why would it tempt Abraham to question the character of God?