Abram’s Walk with God! – Part II
These are the days of Abram…..by faith…..
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 14:1-12
…these kings made war…v.1,2
The personal story of Abram and his daily walk of faith – is challenging to me – as I see the humanity and the imperfection – that Abram struggled with – yet – God walked with him – daily and worked within him – and all around him – to perfect His divine plans – which ultimately found their blessing – falling on me! – In Jesus. Abram’s walk – this day – found him surrounded, as it were - with the sounds and smells of war – raging all around and threatening the life of Lot and his family. I suppose a lesson here might be that Faith - is not often – fully developed - in quiet - peaceful – out-of-the-way places - in the wilderness - rather - our Faith must sometimes weather the trials of - destructive people and events - emotional, and even physical violence – relational power struggles – and even wars – of one sort or another – to find its true meaning.
Father God - I long for faith – to live by – daily – give me the courage to come face to face with the forces – that bring fire to the battle – and develop within me a sincere and tested faith. Help me, Father – not to avoid the tests of faith – but to lean into them – putting more and more of my trust in you. Help me to also be obedient to your command and to follow your leadership in the battles that rise up before me. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 14:13-24
“I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me – Aner, Eschol, and Mamre. Let them take their shares.” v.24
Abram refused to follow the typical tactics of a victorious king - positioning himself - in the spoils of battle – Rather – he gives! He uses this interuption in his daily walk and the victory of the Lord – to strengthen his faith and glorify his God.
When I am prosperous or victorious – I am tempted to position myself – above others and above my true worth. Father, give me the faith of Abram – such that whether in victory or in defeat - I will give You the Glory and the praise - with the same zeal of spirit – in times of blessing and in times of suffering! Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:1-6
He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” v.5
Like me – Abram - stumbled – in his daily walk - and still our Father – is consistent in His Promises. The calendar of our days – turns through the pages of time. And for Abram – a considerable amount of time had passed – but there was still – no child – to confirm the promise. I can understand - the pestering question – that kept crawling up the back of Abram’s throat. How long is it possible to live by faith – without some confirmation - in everyday life? How child-like is that?
It might seem to be a “troublesome” question – to be asking God – But – Abram’s Father – God - addresses Abram’s question – by shifting his attention from “his feet” - to “His heavens”.
Lord – I am too often looking in the wrong direction. And when I am looking too close to my own feet – it is easy for me to become distracted by the lack of resources I find to deal with the challenges of life’s big questions. Father - Help me to look beyond my own understanding - I will look up – to the plans and promises you have in mind for me. When promises - Lord – Blessings – seem to be falling all around me – but not on me – Help me to look to your Heaven’s and be content and faithful and humble and patient in the waiting and in the walking. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:7-11
….”how can I know”……. v.8
Questions of faith - in fact – sometimes make us feel like we are being – unfaithful. Abram believed - although he also - asked questions. Our Father – is our father when we believe - and He is also our father when we ask questions. God hears our questions.
Father – in my faith – give me the sense of relationship that comforts me to bring before you my curious questions – the hard questions – that sometimes I allow to come between you and me. Father, teach me how to bring the questions of my heart to you for consideration. Help me – in relationship with you – to bring my doubting questions – as well as my faithful obedience - in to your presence. Father – teach me to ASK – SEEK – and KNOCK. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 15:12-21
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates….” v.18
It seems that - sincere – genuine – commitment - in a daily walk of faith – does not - necessarily – mean that ”things” will get done – in a hurry.
Maturity in faith – more often than not – requires that - we wait a lot. Abram’s walk with God - into the “unknown” – led him into - a land of wickedness – and darkness – and the Lord taught him – that promises are often fulfilled through the centuries – and not without - a considerable amount of suffering. The finer details of Abram’s vision are not totally clear- but one thing does seem to be clear - Abram and the Father - God, were connected – in Relationship – in a daily – walking relationship – on a deeper level than seeing – they were in covenant relationship – bound together – Father and Son – human faith & faithful God.
I am so very often self-centered in my faith, dear God. Too often I find myself “hung-up” on what I will get out of it and when. My faith is – indeed child-like – for I am such a child – in this relationship. Bring me into a deeper level of seeing – the larger picture and help me to be more in relationship with your plans and promises – and help me to walk more closely with you – each day – in human faith – in a faithful God. Help me not to become impatient with my circumstances and instead – walk – with you – in trusting faith. Amen
October 15 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »