Ready to Compromise?

Abram should have been overflowing with confidence. God had spoken to him, personally, promising to make him a great nation and make his name great. He even said that “in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Abram’s confidence should have soared when he saw how God directed him. He had followed His leading, leaving everything behind, and taking his family and possessions to a new land. There, God had spoken to him again, promising to give this land to him.

Then, facing a famine, Abram seemed to have lost confidence. He went down to Egypt, hoping to find relief. As he prepared to enter that land, he became overwhelmed with concern about his personal safety. He asked his wife, Sarai, to do what might have seemed unthinkable: to lie to the Egyptian officials and tell them that she was Abram’s sister.

Obeying, she was “taken into Pharaoh’s house.” With Sarai in this compromising position, Pharaoh “treated Abram well for her sake” and even gave him flocks and servants.

Eventually, Pharaoh learned the truth and confronted Abram. He could not understand why he made his wife lie, and commanded Abram to depart from Egypt, with Sarai and all his household.

When facing a possible confrontation, Abram failed to trust God.

Each of us might face similar situations, and various kinds of confrontation. How will we react? With compromise, like Abram? Or will we walk by faith, trusting God? Ready to witness for Him?