Now I Know You Fear God

It seems strange to hear God say,

“Do not stretch out your hand against the boy, and do not do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” — Gen. 22:12

Scripture is clear—He knows all things, and declares the end from the beginning.

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure” —Ps. 147:5

“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.” —Ps. 139:4

“Known to God from eternity are all His works.” —Acts 15:18

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done…” —Is. 46:10

“I am the One who searches minds and hearts…” —Rev. 2:23

“He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.” —Jn. 2:25

Okay—it’s abundantly clear. We get it. Nothing has ever taken Him by surprise. So, in what sense could God say, “Now, I know”?

At first glance, the phrase “Now I know…” seems to imply a new awareness in God—something He did not know previously. Since this is not the case, the key is to read “Now I know…” as God declaring the reality of Abraham’s fear of God being proven or demonstrated, not newly discovered.

This isn’t the only place where we find such language. There are numerous texts that reveal God “knowing” something actually means public confirmation or affirmation, not acquiring information.

For instance:

“The Lord your God has been testing you to know what was in your heart…” —Deut. 8:2

“…that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”—Ex. 16:4

“…God withdrew from [Hezekiah], in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.”—2 Chron 32:31

In the first case, God led Israel and tested them “to know” what was in their hearts, BUT God already told Moses previously in Deut. 5:29:

“Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear Me and keep all My commandments…”

So, He already knew the reality of their hearts—they lacked lasting fear and obedience. The test wasn’t given so God could learn something. Rather, the test exposes what was already true. This is further reinforced by the larger context of Deut. 8:2—just consider the next verse:

“He humbled you and let you hunger...to make you know that man does not live by bread alone…” —Deut. 8:3

The testing wasn’t for God’s benefit—but to reveal and confirm what was in people’s hearts, for them and for others to see.

In the second, Ex. 16, God is testing Israel to “see” whether they will obey. Yet, in v. 2, He takes note of their grumbling. God isn't uncertain about their disposition. Like Deut. 8, this is about demonstrating or exposing obedience through action—not discovering new information.

Here, just as in Deut. 8, the test is also meant to instill more reverence for God. Look ahead to Ex. 20:20:

“God has come to test you, that the fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Testing in Scripture consistently reveals and affirms (or condemns man), instills the fear (reverence) of God. Tests do not inform Him, though He uses language that sounds as if He has some new awareness.

In the third case, the testing was prompted by Hezekiah’s interactions with Babylon. God’s “withdrawing” from Hezekiah means that God allowed circumstances to unfold, not that He lacked knowledge. As with our other examples, the context already declares what was in Hezekiah's heart before the test: pride.

“Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud…” (2 Chr. 32:25)

It’s not that God lacked data—but the test would bring out Hezekiah’s pride. The people, the court, and even Hezekiah himself would see the pride that had crept in.

Across all three examples, the pattern is consistent:

“To know” = To reveal, expose, affirm, or prove.

Not to learn something previously unknown to God.

Testing in Scripture serves:

• To manifest hidden things (Deut. 8:2–3)

  
  

• To publicly confirm character (Exod. 16:4)

  
  

• To expose hidden sin or motives (2 Chr. 32:31)

So when God says “Now I know…” (Gen. 22:12), He means:

“Now it has been revealed, proven, affirmed—for all to see—that you truly fear Me.”

Not that He gained knowledge, but that Abraham’s faith moved from the unseen to the seen. God knew Abraham’s heart, but Abraham needed to see it too. His obedience displayed a faith that held nothing back—even his son. This test:

• Validated Abraham’s trust (Heb. 11:17–19)

  
  

• Foreshadowed the Father giving His only Son (Rom. 8:32)

  
  

• Served as an example to future generations (Jas. 2:21–23)

Neither Genesis 22:12, nor any other text implies ignorance in God, but rather the confirmation of Abraham’s faith through tested obedience.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.” —Jer. 17:9

God speaks in language we can understand—not to reveal what He learns, but to reveal what He values, what He feels, and how He deals with mankind.