Life of Abraham I Faltering Faith, but a Faithful God I Br. George Cherian I Missions India

It is the time of test. A test that could question the sufficiency of God, a test that came in right after Abraham’s great spiritual leap, after obeying the Lord , and after having a great revelation and worship of God. Abraham's life sets the precedence for a Christian living, where 'testing of faith' in not an exceptional experience , but an essential one that marks growth and furtherance in this journey to our promised land. Elijah’s brook ran dry. David went through hunger and pain. Apostle John suffered loneliness of Patmos. Paul experienced imprisonment. Bad and testing times in life give rise to doubts in life. "Am I in the will of God?" "Did I hear the promises right? Or was it my imagination?" "Is my faith faulty?" If all the above is evaluated by the prosperity we have, we will come to wrong conclusions, for circumstances and people are not the guarantors of God-given promises. Promises of God seem far from the realities of life. Promise is a blessing but Abraham is facing famine. The scripture teaches and illustrates the truth that roads to blessings are through difficulties and challenges in life. The will of God is confirmed not by external success, but based on compliance to God’s word. As long as we are in obedience to God’s word, we are in the will of God. The faltering faith of Abraham began when in response to the famine (test), he journeyed South for he was already facing Egypt. Egypt became an option for Abraham. Having options open will lead to compromise. It is to be noted that Egypt was like the place he left. There is always a tendency to be back in the old system, to go back to where, and all that we were once called out from. The faltering continued with Abraham's sole reliance on human wisdom. God’s warning to those who seek help from the world, without seeking the Lord, is this phase of Abraham's life. This course of action, is a fool-proof recipe for self-fishiness and deadly self interests. Abraham failed God in leaving Canaan. Failed Sarah in leaving her to another man. Failed Lot by being the wrong example. Failed the world - Pharaoh by making him a victim to God’s wrath, instead of a blessing. But through it all the faithful God, aids a faltering Abraham to be restored as he gives room for repentance and worship in his life. Abraham is a man akin to us, his choices have been ours too, but the lingering question is; do we trust God to carry us even after a fatal fall? Do we trust God's love, forgiveness and faithfulness? Do we trust God enough? May the intentions of our heart, the words of our mouth, and the deeds of our hands be a reflection of our faith in this living-unchanging and faithful God! • Whatsapp : +91 79043 73509 • https://www.missionsindia.org/ • Email : [email protected] • To support the ministry of Missions India : https://youthformission.com/support-us/ Missions India Navajeevodayam Center Tiruvalla, Kerala, India 689 105