Training - Day 7: Genesis 20-22

Abraham is a complex character. My reading started today with him telling a half truth to King Abimelech saying that Sarah was his sister, but failing to mention that she is his wife. The Lord tell Abimelech in a dream that it is his wife so he confronts Abraham who finally admits that she is his wife. But, it's not really a lie because she is also his half sister (I don't think Abimelech found that to be a satisfying justification). This flawed man is the one that God chose to be the father of his chosen people?

Genesis 22, however, is the complete opposite of that. The Lord tests his faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son, his son that he longed for and was finally given to him at an old age. Abraham doesn't negotiate (as he did for Sodom and Gomorrah) or ask questions, he merely obeys.

This left me wondering about my own character. In the face of adversity, am I the Abraham that tells a white lie to make things a little easier or am I the Abraham that doesn't ask questions, just obeys.

Then I realized that Abraham is both at the same time. God saw the faith that he was capable of and so he pursued Abraham. Romans 5:8 tells us "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God doesn't expect us to be perfect from the beginning, but he does expect us to keep working at it. To keep up our training for a crown that will last.