In this series of posts on the life of Abraham, we have learned a great deal about man’s character. Like Abram, all men have a tendency to waver, but Almighty God is unwavering and immutable. The Bible tells us that God is perfect in all His ways (Psalm 18:30), immutable, unchanging in His character. “For I the Lord, do not change…” the prophet Malachi recorded in Chapter 3, verse 6.
In previous posts, we have seen how Abram, in his journey to the promised land, was humbled and changed during this trip. It began when his family arrived safely in Canaan, but they realized the land was suffering from a famine. After he unwisely made the decision to leave Canaan and move his family into Egypt, Abram instructed Sarai to lie about their marriage in order to protect himself, even though this compromised his values. Abraham’s compromise, rather than maintaining peace and safety as he hoped it would, caused more trouble than he realized, aggravating the Egyptians and probably losing their respect and thereby any witness that he might have made of his faith, perhaps also losing the respect of Lot, his nephew, who obviously looked up to Abraham in place of his father, and also obviously still needed direction. In fact, Abram’s selfish deceit nearly jeopardized all the plans God had for him and his descendants had He not intervened. But Almighty God, unwavering and immutable in character, was faithful, and Abram was changed as a result; he went from depending on his own plans and ideas, which threatened his family’s safety and well-being as well as his own, to wisely trusting God and depending on His wisdom and perfect plans instead.
How often are we all just like Abram? We make decisions daily that are selfish and unwise, not realizing the fallout they bring on us and on others. We fail to see the big picture in our own circumstances, much less the unfolding of God’s great plan for humanity. We fail to trust God for the circumstances that He alone is in control of; moreover, we fail to see the consequences of our indecisions and even our very best decisions. Yet God faithfully guides us if we seek Him. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Only God knows the plans He has for us! Only God knows the plans He has for others. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”We can trust Him. In fact, we can only trust Him. Other people will disappoint us and fail us, but God alone is faithful.
Surely Abram’s story raises questions. Did Abram realize that God was fully able to provide for them in spite of the famine in the land? He probably knew of God’s faithfulness to Noah and his family, providing for them during the flood and afterwards. In Abram’s actions we see that he was beginning to learn not only the character of our God, but also of God’s unlimited power and wisdom. Moreover, Abraham was beginning to see that God means what He tells us and doesn’t accept our modifications to His plan. God already knew of the famine in Canaan. Perhaps it was a test of Abram’s faith in Him to provide for his family. Abram will certainly encounter other tests down the road. We do know this, if the circumstances in Canaan were a test, Abram didn’t pass it the first time around! But when he went back to Canaan with a new heart and mind, he is beginning to see that God means what He says.
So the lesson for today’s post is this: God is able to provide for our needs, even when we cannot see how, and God does not accept compromises.
From Peggy's Pen 