Fear vs. Faith
Opening Prayer
Father, help me to have faith in the middle of difficult times, and to show those on earth and the heavens that I stand in You.
Read Genesis 12:10–20
[10] Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. [11] As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. [12] When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. [13] Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” [14] When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. [15] And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. [16] He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. [17] But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. [18] So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? [19] Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” [20] Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Abram struggle?On occasions I have been asked by friends to write a character reference. It is tempting, because they’re my friends, to highlight the positives and leave out any negatives. Clearly the author of Genesis doesn’t do this, as we quickly move from Abram, man of faith, to Abram, man of fear!
The famine in the land means that Abram fears for his life. Should he stay where God has asked him to be and risk starvation, or move to Egypt where he fears the threatening Egyptians? Either way he will not become the father of many nations if he dies. So Abram asks Sarai to lie (13), and in so doing she is taken by Pharaoh to be his wife (15,19). Sarai suffered because of Abraham’s doubt, yet God protected her in the midst. God’s faithfulness to her remained even in the midst of Abraham’s doubt.
Fear challenges faith, and in moments of fear we’re often tempted to do all we can to help along God’s promises. As a result of Abram’s deception we might imagine that God no longer believes he is the man to begin the plan of salvation for the world. But God is faithful when we are faithless: the promise still stands.
Apply
Confess to God your fears for the future. Have faith that you are a child of God whatever your circumstances or responses.
Closing prayer
Good Father, I trust in You and in Your heart for me. You are all that I need.
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