Title Genesis 12:10-20, the descending faith
Contents Genesis 12:10-20
There is a period of stagnation in the life of faith. We have to endure that downturn well. When spiritual stagnation becomes too severe, it is difficult to recover. Also, even if the ups and downs of our faith life are severe, our faith will stand still. Therefore, we need to change our faith constitution into a spiritual constitution rather than a physical constitution.
Hebrews 10:39 says, “We are not of those who retreat back and perish, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.” If you step back, you will perish. Abraham also went back and made a mistake and was disappointed. I hope that you will have faith that rises as you ponder the text that was devastated by the descending of Abraham's faith.
First, the descending faith seeks the fleshly things. A carnal person values appearance. When a famine broke out in the land of Canaan, Abram went down to Egypt for physical comfort and peace. Anxiety, anxiety, and worries flooded into Abraham's heart as he went down. If things you weren't worried about before weigh your heart down and darken your heart, you should check your faith now. What is weighing on your heart right now? If there is anything that weighs on the heart, such as fornication, uncleanness, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, envy, anger, strife, division, heresy, envy, drunkenness, or debauchery, it must be cut off with the sword of the Spirit. .
Although we are in the flesh, we must look to the sky and live. We must seek physical food, but we must also fill it with the word of God, which is spiritual food (Matthew 4:4).
Second, the descending faith depends on people. People say that you have to stand in line to be successful. But the Bible tells us not to depend on people (Psalm 146:3). It tells us to completely depend on the eternal God. Abraham tells his wife to make her a sister for his own safety (Genesis 12:13-14). When a man gets married and becomes a husband, it means that he will take responsibility for his wife. However, Abraham becomes a chieftain who seeks to protect himself by relying on his beautiful wife. If you become a descending faith and depend on people, you will do such shameful things.
So, instead of relying on people, trust God. He says that if you trust in God, you will become like a tree planted by the water (Jeremiah 17:7-8). Trees planted by the water are clean and bear fruit without worrying about drought.
Third, faith that descends will be put to shame. Abraham suffers the shame of losing his wife to another man (Genesis 12:15-20). In return they received sheep, cattle, slaves, donkeys, and camels. You will also face the shame of selling your wife and becoming rich.
Also, a great calamity came upon Pharaoh's royal palace. A believer should be a channel of blessing to others, but rather a channel of disaster, so this is also a shame. And he is put to shame by being rebuked for deceiving his wife by Pharaoh.
God protected and saved Abraham despite this mistake. This is grace. We must learn from Abram's mistakes as a lesson, hold on to the word of promise and rely only on God, even when difficulties arise. I hope that we will not have faith that goes down, but that we have faith that ascends toward the new heavens and new earth.