THE LINC COLLECTIVE

Does God test people? Trace the repeated theme of testing in the Bible and see how God determines the loyalty and trust of his covenant partners.

(This fully animated series, presented by The Bible Project, traces key biblical themes from their first appearance through the entire narrative of the Bible. With videos ranging from 1-6 minutes long – you can work through the whole series with your group or choose from the playlist. Either way, we encourage you to open in prayer, facilitate conversation and make it practical. Read the Word together, ask questions of the text and see what God wants to say and do.

Click here for the full playlist of 25 videos walking you through key themes in the bible from Genesis to Revelation, or continue with the specific theme below.)

Trees of Testing:
God wants to rule his world in partnership with his human images, and in the garden of Eden, God presents humanity with its first test, represented by a choice between two trees. Will the humans trust God to teach them wisdom, or will they do what’s good in their own eyes? We know how this story ends, and Adam and Eve’s choice begins a downward spiral of failed tests throughout the Torah.

Covenant Partners Tested:
Throughout the Torah God repeatedly tests his covenant partners to see if they are willing to live by his wisdom. We see this testing in the stories of Abraham, Moses, and the nation of Israel. Though there are moments of faith in the face of extreme circumstances, humans continue to repeat the failures of the garden. Humanity is in desperate need of someone who can pass the ultimate test and make right the covenant that was broken in the garden.

Jesus Passes the Test:
All of this leads us to the story of Jesus, the Messiah. He passes the ultimate test by giving up his life for the sins of his people, and through him, God’s life and blessing goes out to all the nations, this is the Good News of the Bible. So while these tests are rarely easy, they are actually important opportunities for God’s people to grow and change, so that they can become agents of God’s blessing to the world around them.

• Scriptures: Genesis 2:15-17; Genesis 3:1-6; Genesis 3:14-15; Genesis 12:1; Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 16:1-6; Genesis 22:1-2; Genesis 22:3-18; Exodus 15:22-27; Exodus 16:4-7; Exodus 17:3; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 9:28-51; Matthew 26:36-41; Matthew 26:42

• Questions: Take a look at these helpful discussion questions if you’re needing further guidance.

• Revelation: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through the text?
• Response: How does this revelation affect the rest of your life – i.e. what is your appropriate response/act of obedience?
• Prayer.

Want to dive deeper into this theme? Check out the study notes here.