Gods Faithfulness to Abram

Read Genesis 12:10-20
Devotion by Michelle MacPherson

In Genesis 3 we saw God’s promise to provide an offspring that would crush the serpent’s head.
In Genesis 12:1-9, we saw God’s promise to Abram bring in more detail as to how he was going to defeat sin and reconcile all people to himself, by creating a nation that would reflect God to all people. However, even though Abram was initially obedient, we see how fickle his faith was in spite of God’s unwavering promise.

Abram went to Canaan, the promised land, and lived there waiting for the day God would make Abram’s faith sight. Yet when a famine happens, Abram’s faith in God’s provision falters and he leaves Canaan. We see throughout this story that God continues to provide for and protect Abram and Sarai, even when they do not trust him to, primarily in that God’s presence continues with them despite their doubt. God goes with them to Egypt.

However, even when Abram and Sarai get to Egypt, we see their doubt in God’s promises only worsen. Instead of trusting God to protect them, and fulfil his promise of providing Abram with an heir from Sarai, they lie. And yet God still protects them, both by graciously providing more than Abram needs and in not allowing Sarai’s womb (and Abram’s lineage from which the Messiah will come) to be corrupted by Pharoah.

Even though God blesses Abram and does not leave him, we see there are consequences for his doubt and ensuing actions. Abram is rebuked by Pharaoh for his dishonesty and sent away from Egypt. We see deception become an inherited sinful action for Abram’s descendants. And Hagar most likely came from Egypt, from whom Ishmael was born. These consequences highlight the fact that sin is still present in God’s chosen people, but that God is gracious and faithful to fulfill his promises even in their doubt. Abram did not consider the nearness and applicability of God’s promises. He did not see the comfort they could bring to his present reality of famine and being a sojourner in a foreign land.

Question:

In what ways do you see yourself finding it easier to trust God for his far-off promises, rather
than in your present needs?