Faith Over PerfectionSample

Read: Genesis 26:1–11

SOAP: Genesis 26:3–4

Stay in this land. Then I will be with you and bless you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will fulfill the solemn promise I made to your father Abraham. I will multiply your descendants so they will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands. All the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants. 

If you feel like you’ve already read this story, you’re right. Genesis 26:1–11 parallels the stories in Genesis 12:10–20 and 20:1–18. In these similar accounts, the guarantor of the promise faced obstacles that tested his faith and threatened the promise. 

First, there is another famine in the land. Isaac, on his way to Egypt, went to Abimelech in Gerar. In contrast to Abraham’s actions, Isaac did not go all the way to Egypt. Instead, he remained in the land because God instructed him to stay there. Acting in faith, Isaac stayed. In Isaac’s act of faith, God reaffirmed the promise. All the things God had promised to do for Abraham He also promised to do for Isaac. Isaac would have numerous descendants who would inhabit the land and all nations on earth would be blessed through his descendants. God would fulfill His promise because of Abraham’s faith. Abraham was to be the example of faith for Isaac, for his children, and for us. God commended Abraham for his faith and promised to continue to bless his descendants through Isaac.

In the second familiar scenario, Isaac told Abimelech that Rebekah was his sister and not his wife. Instead of continuing to act in faith, Isaac acted in fear. Even though God had just confirmed the promise and blessing would come through Isaac, Isaac acted out of fear and lied to Abimelech about Rebekah. Yet even though he failed in the same way as his father, God preserved Isaac, his family, and the promise. God is once again the hero.

Once again, God intervened. God allowed Abimelech to see Isaac and Rebekah together, preserving the promise. While Isaac’s faith boldly faced the danger of the famine, his fear mocked his and his father’s faithfulness in his lies. When we find ourselves faced with the choice between trusting God to provide, preserve, make a way, or intervene, may we act in faith, not fear. While fear mocks the sovereignty of God, faith boldly proclaims the power of the God we serve.

Prayer

Lord God, thank You for the example of Abraham’s faith. Thank You for not only providing examples of great faith but also examples of people who acted in fear. You showed mercy and kindness to Isaac in his failure, and I know you have mercy for me when I give in to fear. Help me to have faith in You today. Amen.