Learning to Trust God

One of the hardest areas of discipleship is learning to trust God. The story of Abram has often been a tremendous source of encouragement for me. There are many different lessons that we can learn from his initial call in Genesis 12. This will be the first of three that I will address on my blog. In Genesis 12, God calls Abram with three commands: Leave your country, kinsmen, and family, Go to a land I will show you, and Be a blessing! For Abram to be a blessing, he must leave his current situation. God gives Abram several incentives to leave. He will have a great nation, blessings, and a great name. God promises Abram that anyone who curses him will be cursed and anyone who blesses him will be blessed (12.3).

Abram was new to faith and his new faith was immediately put to the test. Shortly after he arrives in Canaan, a severe famine forces Abram and his family to go to Egypt. Abram decides to lie to the Egyptians in hopes that his life will not come into jeopardy. Abram is new to faith and has not yet put his full trust in the promises of God. Can anything really happen to Abram? No! God has promised (12.3). God proves his promise by punishing Pharaoh with plagues. Abram is released and goes to Negev (the wilderness).

Israel could have learned a valuable lesson from their father Abram while they were in the wilderness. The Israelites had been in no unique situation. Abram also left Canaan for Egypt because of a famine. God also sent plagues on Pharaoh (12.17). Abram exited Egypt and went into the wilderness (Negev) just as Israel, but he had remained faithful. Abram obeyed the call of God and his trust in God deepened over time. Will Israel be like their great ancestor?

Abram’s trust was rooted in the promises of God. If Abram would have put his complete trust in God’s promises, he would have never feared the Egyptians. God also made an opportunity out of the event by proving to Abram that he is good to his promises. Abram’s journey of faith did not happen over night. It reminds me of the old question, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” The answer: Practice! Learning to trust God requires the same thing!