Sand: When Faith Gets Shifty

Sand: When Faith Gets Shifty

Abraham. A man of rock solid faith, right?

Sometimes.

Sometimes, he found himself in the sifty, shifty sand.

As we dig our toes into the beach sand this summer, let’s look at the sandy spots that shifted Abraham’s world and avoid them in ours:

The Sand of Helplessness: In two incidents (Gen. 12:10-20; Gen. 20:1-18), Abraham traveled to a foreign region (Egypt, Gerar). Both times he told the reigning monarch that Sarah was his sister, neglecting to mention their marital status. Both kings took her into their harems. God protected Sarah, but the kings rebuked Abraham for lying.

His reason for fibbing? “Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” (Genesis 20:11 NIV) He was scared. Pee-in-his-pants afraid, and, in his mind, at the mercy of the monarch. Helpless.

The Sand of Hurry: In Genesis 15, Abraham questioned God about an heir. God answered in vs. 4-6, followed by the famous verses of Abraham’s faith and righteousness. But in the next chapter, a barren Sarai proposed a second wife, the Egyptian Hagar, “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” (Genesis 16:1-2)

Not a crazy idea. Pretty normal for the culture back then.

But it wasn’t what God had in mind.

And—Abraham didn’t stop to ask.

Hurry. Wanting our way in our time. It’s trouble.

The Sand of Hesitancy: In Genesis 18:16-33, God revealed to Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah would be destroyed. Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived there. Abraham bargained with God for the righteous of the city, hoping to protect Lot.

But he never mentions Lot by name.

Abraham never shared what was truly on his heart. Though God planned to rescue Lot all along, Abraham’s intercession was vague and somewhat sterile. He missed an opportunity for a heart-to-heart with his heavenly Father on behalf of a much-loved family member.

A lack of trust drove each shift, each sandy stumble. God’s protection, God’s provision, and God’s power were available to His beloved child.

Abraham had no reason to believe God would withhold. And neither do we. Click To Tweet

Workout of the Week: Sand, When Faith Gets Shifty

Memory Verse: “Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” (Genesis 20:11)

Meditation Passage: Genesis 18:16-33

Just Do It: Trust what you know; stay Rock-solid.

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