God's Call... My Way?

Scripture Reading

 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.  As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.  When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’  So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”  

And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.  When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace.  Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.

But the LORD sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.  So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?  Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife?  Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!”

Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.

~ Genesis 12:10-20,  New Living Translation

Reflection

Abram, called by God and on a journey ordained, sanctioned and led by God, takes matters into his own hands when he encounters a major obstacle: his own fear.  As he is about to take up temporary residence in Egypt to escape widespread famine, he instructs his wife, Sarai, to lie by saying that she is his sister, not his wife.  Abram fears that her beauty will drive men to kill him in order to get to her.

As a result, Sarai is taken into the Pharaoh's harem... And the Lord sends judgment to Pharaoh.  

In the end, Abram's sin has consequences that far outreach his own personal safety, which is what he was trying to protect in the first place.  In the process of obeying the big picture of God's call, he disobeys God and falls into sin in the everyday details as he tries to negotiate what seems to be an insurmountable difficulty.

Personal Application

How many times have I come up with my own solutions to the inevitable obstacles that arise as I pursue God's call on my life?  Do I trust God with the details, as well as the big picture?  

The path of righteousness is not a path of ease.  Jesus says: "The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, New International Version 1984).  

When I encounter obstacles, setbacks, difficulty, discomfort, I must look to God for the solution.  He wants me to fulfil His call, in His way.

Prayer

"Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times that I have stepped outside of Your will, even when I was in pursuit of Your call.  Help me to understand that even when I am doing Your will, many times it will be uncomfortable, fearsome, even painful.  Please remind me that, during those times, I need to come to You, hide in You, and rely on Your strength and wisdom instead of my own.  Then I will experience for myself that Your grace WILL take me safely through any storm that comes my way."

Action

Think about an obstacle or a difficulty you're facing right now.  Have you prayed about it?  Or are you already in the middle of executing your own rescue plan, without asking God for His guidance?  

• Stop and pray.  Tell God what's going on, including your fear and confusion.  
• Ask Him for His guidance, for strength to endure, and to boost your faith that He WILL make a way.  
• Write it down in your journal.  
• Tell a trusted friend or mentor and ask them to pray with and for you.    Then... 
• Expect God to answer in His own way, as you go about your daily life.  And, when He does, give Him thanks and praise!