Genesis 12 - 5.6.26

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Observation

God keeps his promises. 

In Genesis 12, God tells Abraham to leave his home and go to a new land, and God would bless him and make a great nation from his descendants. Abraham packs up all he owns and obeys. But later, his faith is challenged and he decides to take matters into his own hands. He is afraid that Pharoah will kill him in order to take Sarah as a wife, so he lies and says Sarah is his sister in order to save himself. At that point, he's not thinking about honoring God, or the consequences to Sarah or anyone else. He just wants to save himself. 

But in spite of Abraham, God keeps His promise.

Application

I read chapter 12 and thought, "Why wasn't Abraham punished for his lie?' He caused harm to Sarah and Pharoah, but by the end of the chapter he was sent on his way with his family and all his possessions. I don't know why he seemingly faced no consequences, but I do know how many times, due to the grace of God, I don't receive the punishment I deserve. I also know that God made a promise and God keeps his promises. God's promises are bigger than our sin!

Looking forward in Abraham's life, I also think God used this as an opportunity to grow Abraham's faith. You would have expected Pharoah to kill him when he found out what he had done, but God protected him. Many years later when Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, the one that God had promised him, he was willing to trust that God was in control and obey even when it made no sense.

We are human and we are going to fail sometimes. How we react in those times of failure matters. Will we allow our failure to define us and give up? Or will we repent and learn and grow? Abraham grew in his faith, trusted in God, and became the father of a great nation.

Prayer

Lord, help me to remember that your promises are true and your plan is bigger. Help me to continue to grow in times of challenge. Remind me that your plan is not defined by my failure. Help me to run to you and put my trust in you always. 

- Debbie Dunn