Every little story is part of the great story of God’s deliverance, said the young preacher.
Preaching through a passage in Genesis 12, the young visiting pastor spoke of Abram’s wavering faith. When forced by famine to flee to Egypt, Abram feared for his life. He thought the pharaoh would take one look at his beautiful wife Sarai, and then kill Abram so he could take her as his own. To protect his life, Abram devised a plan in which he asked his wife to pretend that she was his sister. God delivered both Abram and Sarai by sending illness and plague on Pharaoh’s household until he was willing to release her, sending both she and Abram away in safety.
This is the same Abram who, only a few verses earlier, had received God’s promise to bless not only him but, through his offspring, all nations of the earth. The young preacher asked why a man who had received such a promise from God would feel the need to take matters into his own hands to protect his own life.
The young pastor then reminded us that we’d heard this story before in the pages of scripture:
· God’s people, because of hardship and famine, found themselves living in exile in Egypt—a place that was not their home.
· While living in exile, they began to succeed and prosper.
· God sent plagues on the nation holding His people captive.
· He delivered His people, just as He’d promised.
These elements, these themes, echo and repeat throughout the pages of scripture, said the preacher. Even the promised Messiah was driven into Egypt as his family fled from the murderous threats of King Herod. Then He was called out of Egypt to deliver His people.
God means for us to see everything in scripture as the story of God delivering His people, said the young preacher.
And if every story in scripture points us to the big story—the story of God of fulfilling his promise to deliver His people while living in exile in a world that is not their own--then maybe, just maybe, my story echoes this same theme. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t have to take matters into my own hands like Abram did. Maybe, instead, I should trust that God will fulfill His promise just as He has shown time and time again, story after story.
Also, waiting in exile but linking with L.L. Barkat in her series On, In, and Around Monday:
9 comments:
Great post. In fact, every time I get in God's way by taking matters into my own hands, I get in trouble. Blessings.
My gosh -- the number of times that I have taken things into my own hands. You know, I used the read the OT and think how silly those people were for not trusting God. Then, hard things came upon me and now I read with much more grace. And, of course, I see myself in them.
yeah. what you said.
I've always wondered about that "Sarai is my sister" story. Exactly how did that help *Sarai* stay safe? What did she endure for that act of taking things into his own hands? And what do I inflict on other people when I make the same choice? (and why can't I learn?)
I should trust that God will fulfill His promise just as He has shown time and time again, story after story.....yes! this speaks to my heart today. This principal! It is woven in and out of Scripture. As He promised...do I trust?
xo
The big story... Keeping it in view makes sense of my small story(ies). Great post Nancy, sounds like a great sermon, too.
I just finished reading Ecclesiastes. I think, in a way, the encouragement there is relevant. It is essentially, eat, drink and enjoy the work that God has given you, because the rest is vanity and striving after the wind. Thanks, for your post, Nancy!
Nancy - this is great, this story of stories touching my life, your life, all of life. I see that story played out over and over, as you suggest. And I see myself playing Abraham, again and again, taking matters into my own hands. Maybe, just maybe, I should trust God.
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