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Genesis 12-13 – Praying through the Bible #4 – A Prayer for “Altaring” Life’s Journey
The Hobbit is not the only one to go on an unexpected journey. Fictionally Gandalf called Bilbo. Really and truly Yahweh called Abraham, and Jesus calls us. These spiritual journeys are filled with physical realities, both expected and unexpected. By faith Abraham answers, as do we; but neither of us always lives by faith, or lives up to the high calling of faith (Heb 3.1). Too often the unexpected is our undoing. The unexpected causes fear. Fear alters faith.
There is an interesting and telling pattern in the storytelling of Abraham’s journey. Leaving Ur, he doesn’t build an altar where he no longer belongs. As expected, he comes to the Promised Land, and faithfully builds altars where he lives and belongs (12.8-9; 13.18). When this man of faith lives by faith, he builds and calls on the name of the Lord.
In between altars, the unexpected happens, famine (12.10) and Abraham leaves his God-given home and looks for answers in Egypt. Is this part of God’s plan? The story suggests no, because there is no record of Abraham building an altar in Egypt. What is recorded is his failure to live by faith when he lies about Sarah, endangering her physical purity by forgetting God’s promises (12.1-3). Abraham puts himself into positions of temptation that become common to him (20.13) and allows himself to be tempted by a fear he thinks is too much to bear, and doesn’t look for the escape rout of faith (1 Cor 10.13).
Here is our prayer challenge for the day. Reflect on our journey and our choices, large and small, negative and positive, people we have helped or hurt, decisions which have altered our lives. Have we lived by faith or by fear? In the places we left behind, and where we are today, are there remnants of our faithfulness or a barren emptiness filled by our fear? Don’t focus too long on regrets; remember that after Abraham leaves Egypt, he again builds an altar (13.8). After reflecting, you can always come home and continue your unexpected journey with God. No one needs to be altered by fear; each one can be an altar of faith. Start praying.
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