Fear versus faith is a struggle every believer faces along their faith journey. Fear, not the Lord’s guidance, led Abram and Sarai to travel to Egypt due to a famine. It was fear that led Abram to fabricate the story his beautiful wife was his sister, so he would escape harm.
Genesis 12:15 When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. 16 Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. [1] In a moment of fear, Abram chose to deceive Pharoah, placing Sarai in a precarious situation.
This passage highlights our human tendency to prioritize self-preservation, even at the expense of others. It reminds us that even the righteous, such as Abram, can falter. The fact that Abram gained great wealth due to this deception shows that worldly gain does not equal God’s blessings. Only when the Lord begins to transform us do we see life through His eyes and not the world. Philippians 4:19And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. [2]
God’s Sovereignty
Despite Abram’s flawed actions, God’s sovereign hand remains evident. He intervened to protect Sarai and to fulfill His promises to Abram. Genesis 12:17 But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.[3] How many times have we wandered from God’s intended path for our life only to have the Lord call us back?
The Lord is a God of intervention in both Abram’s and Sarai’s lives and ours. The Lord’s infliction of serious diseases on Pharaoh’s household demonstrates His power and unwavering commitment to His Covenant with Abram. Even when people err, God’s plans prevail.
Jonah, Peter, and Paul were all given second chances because of God’s divine intervention. As we reflect on our lives, we discover that the Lord has also intervened. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can we believe in Jesus. God’s intervention in our lives is a potent reminder that God sees all and will intervene when He deems necessary.
God is Full of Grace and Mercy
The struggles of Abram encourage us to reflect on our moments of fear and deception. As we look to God to protect us, He can do much more than any scheme we could devise. His grace extends to us, and He works through our imperfections to accomplish His purposes. 2 Corinthians 4:7We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. [4]
To learn more about fear versus faith, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-faith-meets-fear
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.