Genesis 12 -- Abram Trusted, Then Blinked

There were 18 generations between Adam and Abram, according to previous chapters, and Abram was born 1,018 years after Adam died.  According to the most likely location of the Garden of Eden, Abram’s family line hadn’t strayed too far away, located in Ur, just southeast of the Tower of Babel.

We’re not told whether God had kept up personal conversations with members of this bloodline over the 2000 years since Adam was created, but He sure knew all their names.  Was Abram then surprised when God personally told him to move to another country, or was he used to everyday conversations with God?

He showed great faith in the beginning, setting out for parts unknown under God’s guidance.  Even upon entering Canaan with its aggressive tribes, Abram routinely moved where he was directed and set up altars every time he did.  He trusted in God’s promise of protection and blessing.

But then the drought came and food became scarce.  It would seem this was a test of his faith in God, since God seemed to still routinely talk to him and could easily have told him to move to Egypt for food.  Abram apparently came up with this on his own.  The move indicates Abram may have doubted God’s ability or willingness to see him through the toughest times.  He came up with his own plan to protect his life from possible attempts to kill him and take his wife Sarai from him. 

My commentary nailed it:  “This incident reminds us that we should not wage a spiritual warfare with carnal weapons, that the end does not justify the means, and that we can’t sin and get away with it.”

Had he trusted God, Abram could simply have told the truth about Sarai being his wife and God would have taken care of the rest.  Instead, he was “publicly humbled and deported in disgrace.”

One thing about the Bible --  it doesn’t shirk from pointing out sin even in the patriarchs’ lives!  God’s not in the business of propaganda.  He’s the God of truth.  Wars and all, He helps us see how important obedience is, and what happens when we try to have tings our way rather than His way.

Father, remind me daily not to fight spiritual warfare with non-spiritual weapons.  Keep me from discouragement.  Help me to trust solely in You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford