7 Jan 2021
Yesterday, our Old Testament Challenge – Day 6 reading was Genesis chapters 12 through 14. In our reading we come to Abraham, who is considered the father of faith. As we read and look at his life you can see why. At the age of 75, God calls him to leave his native country, his father’s family, his relatives, to go to a land that God will show him. In other words, God tells Abraham, “Hey, Abraham, this God, I want you to leave your family and everything you know and go to a place that I’ll show you. And I’ll make you a great nation, I’ll bless you, I’ll make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. So, how about it?” We all know Abraham’s response, “Not a problem, I’ll start packing.” What we see here is a man being obedient to God when called to steep and do what God asked. Folks, that is faith! Knowing that God will do what He says He will do. As we read through the life of Abraham we see how God tested Abraham’s faith and how Abraham reacted.
Abraham left Haran, which was in modern day Turkey, to go to Canaan. There are are a couple ways to get there from Haran. You could travel cross the desert, the shorter way, or you could travel along the Euphrates River than south into Canaan. That route would keep you in what they call The Fertile Crescent and with livestock that would be the way to go. If I remember right, that route was about 1500 miles and they were walking. The Bible does tell us that is the route he took.
In verse 10 of chapter 12, we see Abraham’s faith tested. There was famine in Canaan and Abraham and Sarah go to Egypt. Along the way, He starts thinking, my wife is beautiful and Pharoah my kill me and take her for his wife. So, Abraham asks Sarah to deceive Pharoah by telling him that she was his sister, which is true, actually half-sister, but to keep quiet about her being his wife. I wonder how that thought got in Abraham’s mind and the idea of deceiving? I bet you know that answer……satan! A little lack of faith on Abraham’s part. Abraham should have remembered what God had done for him and the promises that God made to him, He would have known that God would keep him alive till He accomplished what He called Abraham to do. You know folks, we are a lot like Abraham, God does wonderful things in our life and we praise and thank Him for them, then Satan tempts us with something and we begin to worry and fall to pieces. Why, because at that moment we forget how great and powerful our God is. Folks, that is weak faith. When you are being tempted or worrying about anything, remember what James, the brother of Jesus said……” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Well, that’s my thoughts on yesterday’s reading. Tomorrow I’ll give you my thoughts on today’s reading. Until tomorrow, may God bless you with peace, joy, comfort, and strength.
The Scriptural Truth 