Abraham's faith journey (recovery from failure) #4

 August 29, 2020 (Saturday)

 

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” [Hebrews 12:15 ESV] The Greek word translated “See to it” means to “look diligently” or “oversee.” It is the same word translated “Bishop” (in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:7 KJV] The idea is we must manage ourselves BECAUSE we are responsible.

 

Failure can lead to bitterness. Bitterness leads to trouble. Trouble leads to defilement. The reality is this does not just affect us. At this point Abram could have grown bitter. He could have blamed God.

What does Abram do? He journeys back to where he was before his failure. Abram returns to worship. “This was the same place where Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped the Lord again.” [Genesis 13:4 NLT] This altar was at Bethel. It was the second altar he built and the first time we read, “…and called upon the name of the Lord.” [Genesis 12:8c ESV]

 

I feel this was a key moment for Abram. It would have been easy to become bitter. In a sense Abram takes responsibility. It was his choice to go to Egypt. It was his choice to lie. He did not manage himself or his situation in a godly way. Having been driven out of Egypt in shame, Abram returns and worships the LORD.

 

Abram is not free from trouble. His faith journey is like stepping from stone to stone to cross a creek. The next situation occurs because of prosperity. “But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together.” [Genesis 13:6 NLT] Later in the Bible we will discover the LOVE of money is a problem. Notice having money is not the issue. It is our attitude toward it and others that effects our character, and eternal destiny.

 

Abram, becomes an example of humility. He takes a risk and offers Lot a choice. “Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!” [Genesis 13:8 NLT] Notice Abram takes the initiative. 

 

In humility, Abram offers, “The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” [Genesis 13:9 NLT] Think about it. For the sake of peace, Abram was willing to move away from the land God promised to give him.

 

How many of us are willing to defer to the other for the sake of peace? I’m not talking about compromising on a moral or spiritual issue. Land seems to be important in the promise God gave to Abram. It was Abram’s to claim. Yet, his trust in God seems to have grown through his failure. 

 

Abram seems to value Lot, and his peaceful relationship, over the need to hang on to something that is his. At this point Abram becomes a person of peace. Love and peace are more important than rights and possessions. “Insightful people restrain their anger; their glory is to ignore an offense.” [Proverbs 19:11 CEB]