Today’s Reading: Genesis 12:10 – 14:24, Psalm 27
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection. – Psalm 18:30
We start today where we ended yesterday — with the reminder that we can trust God. His way is perfect and His promises are true. Unfortunately, Abram had a big lesson to learn on what it means to truly trust God for protection — to wait patiently for the Lord.
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.
There was a severe famine, forcing Abram to go to Egypt to find food. Now Sarai was very beautiful and Abram feared the Egyptians would kill him in order to keep her. Instead of relying on God to fulfill His promise, Abram took matters into his own hands and deceived the Egyptians by telling them Sarai was his sister. Of course, this was true (20:12), but he failed to mention she was also his wife. God had promised to protect Abram, but Abram felt the need to protect himself through deception.
Sarai’s beauty was undeniable and she was taken to Pharoah to be his wife. Terrible plagues came upon Pharoah and his household because of Sarai’s presence. Pharoah gave her back to Abram and commanded him to leave Egypt — the place they had fled to in order to survive the famine. God could have used Egypt to provide for their needs, but Abram failed to trust in Him for protection so they were back on the road.
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? – Psalm 27:1-2
Abram left Egypt and traveled to the region between Bethel and Ai. They traveled in stages, pitching their tents to rest between trips. Eventually they found themselves right where they had been before, and they took time to worship God at the altar Abram had previously built. What a great reminder to Abram and his family of where God had brought them from and where He promised to lead them.
Their group was quite large and tempers were flaring among their herdsmen, so Abram offered to split the land with Lot. Now all the land to the east of them in the Jordan Valley was fertile and well watered, obviously the best choice of land. Yet Abram gave Lot the first choice of which land he wanted. Perhaps Abram had learned something from his journey through Egypt. He knew that it was not the land itself that would provide, but that God would bless him regardless of which piece of land he received. After Lot chose the better half, the Lord confirmed his promise to Abram a third time:
“Look as far as you can see in EVERY direction – north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” – Genesis 13:14-17
No more wandering; they were home. God was giving them this land as a permanent possession. And once again, God renewed His covenant with Abram. God was generously giving him both land and descendants. Now the land was still filled with Canaanites and Perizzites, and Sarai was still barren, so it took faith for Abram to accept God’s promise with confidence — to wait patiently on the Lord.
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.
There was a year-long battle between the kings in the surrounding nations, with four kings joining together to fight against five other kings. In the midst of the chaos, Lot and his family were captured in the battle, and their possessions were confiscated. Knowing that his God would protect him, Abram gathered together 318 of his trained men and left the safety of his land in pursuit of the foreign armies who were headed back home with their captives.
When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most — is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. — Psalm 27:2-6
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.
Not only did Abram rescue Lot, he rescued many others in the conflict. The king of Sodom was so grateful that he wanted to give all the goods captured to Abram as a gift. Just as Abram now knew that God was the source of his protection, he also knew God was the source of his blessings. He politely refused the gifts and kept his eyes on God – his Protector and his Provider.
Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8
Father God, we are spending time in your presence this morning to thank you for being our source of provision and protection. We ask that you show us if there are areas of our lives in which we are taking things into our own hands, trusting in our own abilities instead of relying on you. May we learn how to wait patiently for you, allowing you to provide for us in your way and in your perfect timing. Amen.
Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. – Hebrews 6:15
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1