The story of Abraham (4)

Gen 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

This sentence is short but deep. Since God called upon Abraham, he ever received any material blessings. God promised to give him a land, and asked him to leave his own country, friends and home. Abraham did, but no land was for him. He passed through the whole land of Canaan to search for a piece of land, while the consequence was disappointing. And now, there was a severe famine in the land. If you were one of Abraham’s friends, what would you advice him?

“Why not go home?” “Just assume that what God said is true (which I doubt because he did not keep his promise), you really want a land like this? A land is with famine?” Had there been any struggle within Abraham’s heart when he heard others’ whispers? What would you do when the promise of God seemed to be broken and things sometimes go worse that your whole life is almost at the edge of lost? Furthermore, why does God often keep silent at the times when I need him?

Abraham made a decision: going down to Egypt to sojourn there. Here, the Bible used the term “sojourn” (in Hebrew gur) not “live” (in Hebrew chaya). “Sojourn” means staying for a period of time, while “live” represents to have a life and live in. Can you image? After facing so many troubles, difficulties and disappointing, Abraham just wants to sojourn in Egypt! This indicates that he will come back to the land of Canaan, the land with famine! He did not choose to come back to Ur, where his own country is; he did not choose to live in Egypt, where a fertile and beautiful land is (think about it, no food in the nearby Canaan but supplement in Egypt; ref. Gen 13:10). He will come back to Canaan! Today, how many of us have this kind of faith!   

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation (Hab 3:17-18).” If anyone likes to blame Abraham that he has no faith for going down to Egypt, let him blame if he can show a stronger faith than Abraham when facing a severe famine.

Index: 

The story of Abraham (5)