I have been studying about Abram the last few weeks. After, I wrote my last blog post, I realized I had been reading this with my glasses on, instead of God’s.

The funny thing about hearing with my cochlear implants is that I can hear my voice, tones, and attitudes like I never could before. Share on X

I have realized that I can sometimes sound like a pharisee. Can I just say that is NOT my favorite sound!

I was talking to my husband about what I had been reading in Genesis about Abram. God has given Abram the promise. He has left his father and family behind, except his nephew Lot. He had packed up all his stuff and began to go towards where God was calling him to go.

The next thing you know, they are headed towards Negav. There was a famine in the land and it was severe. So, they decided to got to Egypt temporarily.

“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:1-6‬ ‭NASB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/100/gen.12.1-6.nasb

I don’t see anywhere that God directed them to go to Egypt. It seems like Abram saw there was a problem and he went into fix-it mode. There was a bad famine where they were supposed to stay. So, he decides to go down to Egypt because that seemed like a place they could live well while waiting out the famine.

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.” Genesis 12:7 (NASB)

Abram got the promise. He was in the land God had promised him, and his descendants. He built an altar and was in God’s presence.

I continued talking to my husband. “He was just in God’s presence. How could he be doubting God or fearing for his life after hearing God’s promise?” “How could he just go off and do things his way right after being in God’s presence?”

My husband lovingly pointed out a few things to me, and I went back and read it all again. This time I had God's glasses on. Share on X

How often has God given me promises, both in His Word and personally? How many times have I allowed fear and doubt to cause me to my own plan, instead of trusting God’s plan?

How many times have I come down from the mountain of praise and time in God’s presence only to find myself with an obstacle in the valley?

“But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘she is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negav, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.” Genesis 12:17-20; 13:1 (NASB)

God dealt with the situation, and made a way to get Abram back where he needed to be. Share on X

I have countless personal testimonies of those circumstances in my life. God is incredibly faithful to us. As I grow in Him, I don’t wander off quite as far, or as often, thankfully. But there are times when I keep my eyes on what I can see, instead of trusting in what I can’t.

Things may look unsettling around us. Circumstances may feel impossible, but God has given us His Word and His promises. His presence is with us and we don’t have to make our own plan, fix the situation, or fear what we see.

If we continue to acknowledge Him, look to Him, spend time in His presence, continue to praise Him, and surrender all to Him, He is faithful to lead us where we need to go. We can trust Him to provide everything needed for the trip.

Abram was learning and growing in his relationship with God, just like you and I. May we have grace with one another as we walk out this journey together. Share on X

Lord, forgive us when we sound like pharisees. We are thankful for Your promises to us. May we encourage one another to keep our eyes on You. We pray fear and doubt will not be able to overtake us. We surrender ourselves and our lives to You. May we encourage each other and spur one another on in love, instead of condemning one another. Thank you for Abram, and for giving us Your Word, that we might learn and grow in our relationship with You. In Jesus Name, Amen!