O Ye of Great Faith?

Wednesday, 9th May 2007

Today, I continue to look at events happening in the book of Genesis which reflect the battle between good and evil following God's prophesy that an offspring of Eve will crush the devil's head.

Let's recap the score so far, which is God 2, Satan 0.

Round 1:
Satan inspires 1st born Cain to kill 2nd born Abel.
God raises a 3rd born Seth to carry the line.
God wins Round 1.

Round 2:
Satan sends his followers to take on the form of men to marry human women, so that mankind is blemished.
God preserves the only unblemished man Noah and his family, keeping them safe in the Ark, while the others perish in the flood.
God wins Round 2.

Let's now move onto the story of Abraham (previously called Abram).

Abraham is considered to be a great man of faith, so much so that his name appears in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

But did he consistently trust in the Lord? The answer is no. Let's examine three separate occasions when Abraham showed a lack of faith:

Gen 12:10-20 Here we read how Abraham and Sarah had to go to Egypt to avoid a famine. Fearing for his life, he asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister.

Gen 16:1-5 Here we read how Sarah convinced Abraham to have relations with Hagar, from which came forth Ishmael. They took things into their own hands instead of believing that God would provide in His perfect time.

Gen 20:1-18 Here we read (again) how Abraham feared for his life, so he (again) asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister.

In spite of the above, God still considered him a great man of faith. (Just like King David was considered a man after God's heart in spite of his adultery, murder and pride). Let this be an encouragement to those of us who feel that we have let God down, because He is always ready to forgive us and restore us back unto Himself.

Let's now see the events in the light of the battle between good and evil and the fulfillment of Gen 3:15.

Round 3:
Satan, having heard that Abraham would be the one to carry the line, caused a famine, put fear into Abraham's heart to the extent he was willing to give up his wife Sarah's dignity on two occasions -- with the Pharaoh of Egypt in Gen 12, and with King Abimelech in Gen 20.
God responded by preventing both the Pharoah and King Abimelech from defiling the one whom He had chosen to carry the offspring. Not only did these kings return Sarah untouched, they even gave Abraham their possessions so that he would keep away from them!
God wins Round 3

Round 4:
Satan, knowing that Sarah was the carry the line, closed her womb. He also instigated Abraham and Sarah to use their own self-efforts to create an Ishmael, instead of relying upon God.
God's timing is always perfect, and He blesses them with Isaac, from whom the partriachs Jacob and Judah came forth.
God wins Round 4.

Round 5:
Satan was simultaneously adopting a parallel attack in getting mankind to go against the first commandment of man "being fruitful and multiplying" when he made the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah to prefer their own kind. To prevent this from becoming a bad influence on Abraham (who was to be a father of many nations), God had to destroy those cities with brimstone and fire.
God wins Round 5.

Score so far: God 5, Satan 0.

Tomorrow, we will look at the stories of Isaac, Jacob and Judah in the light of the grand battle.