Abraham – Faith Begins to Take Root

Abraham – Faith Begins to Take Root
>>> Read Genesis 12:9 – 13:13<<<

Abram took some tentative first steps of faith when God called him to leave country and kindred – however, he didn't really leave his family behind. Abram's father had died but Lot would continue to be a thorn in Abram's side. Throughout Abram's life, we will see God's faithfulness drawing him into intimate friendship. This friendship enabled Abraham to become the great man of faith that we see at the end of his life.

In our last look at Abram, we left him worshipping God at the altar in Bethel. The altar, in Scripture, represents two things: 1) God's desire to come down to meet with man, and 2) the altar that exists in the heart of man when he is counting upon God to forgive him. But Abram didn't stay in Bethel, the place of dependence upon God; his communion with God was cut short when he began to drift south into Egypt. Egypt is the place where material necessities and comforts are provided, not by God, but by man.

Here we see Abram settling down again, not where God had led him, but in a place where his needs could be met without God. Egypt did not offer sweet fellowship and enjoyment of God's provision.  It was the place where Abram used deceit, instead of dependence upon God, in order to survive. Once again, we see Abram accumulating the world's riches, not God's – and they come with personal cost to him.

Abram stayed in Egypt until he was sent away by Pharaoh, and then he returned to Bethel where he called upon the Lord (there is no record that God spoke to him at this time). Apparently, Lot acquired some wealth in Egypt as well, and this created a conflict between the herdsmen of the two men. Their combined herds were too much for the land space – this is a consequence of Lot's presence in the land (because Abram did not leave his family behind) and their wealth, which was obtained at the expense of fellowship with God.

Now we see that Abram has learned something about trusting God. When it becomes necessary for the men to separate, Abram allows Lot to choose the land he wants. He is actually allowing God to choose through Lot. When there was famine in the land, Abram acted according to what he saw with his own eyes, and sought relief in Egypt – but this time he uses the eyes of faith, and Lot is the one who makes a decision based on sight. Lot saw the well-watered valley and the cities; they reminded him of Egypt (Gen. 13:10), so he moved his tents near Sodom where "the men were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord" (vs 13).

Lot is set in contrast to Abram so that we can learn the stark difference, within our own lives, between the heart that desires God and the heart that yearns for the world. Abram did not always seek God first, but his failures brought him back to God. The path of faith includes failure – failure that leads to humble repentance as we come to recognize our personal weakness; however, the general direction of the faith-walk is toward intimacy with God.  Lot did not walk in that direction; his heart was filled with the world – therefore, his feet took him there.

Abraham, on the other hand, was becoming occupied with the unseen promises of God – and with God Himself. He was learning, in stages, to allow God to govern his interests and desires. His willingness to submit to God regarding where to settle is evidence that he no longer trusts his own judgment; he desires to know the mind of God on the matter. God waits for us to come to this very same realization: to set aside our own thoughts and seek the mind of God on all matters.

Once Abram was no longer encumbered with Lot's presence, God spoke to him, encouraging him in his faith by providing more details about the promised land and descendents. As for the land, he told Abram to look around – everything he could see would belong to his descendants. Then God told him to walk through its length and breadth. God encouraged Abram to experience the land and reminded him again, "I will give it to you." His faith is strengthened by increased revelations and assurances of God's intentions for him. As to Abram's descendants, God gives His promise more substance when He declares that Abram's descendents will be numbered as the dust of the earth.

God asked Abram to leave everything behind, but He put something in its place. In the same way, Jesus asks us to leave the world behind and to allow Him to empty us of ourselves. As we follow Him, He begins to fill us up with Himself. He draws us away from the life we know and into a life of communion with God. In the process, we lose the desire for the things of the world, entering in by stages, to intimacy with the Lord Jesus. There we become part of His own relationship with the Father. This is the relationship that sustains us when we are tempted or tried – as we will surely be in this world.
LJ 8/09