Abraham: Calling and Failure in Egypt
That the world is a danger for believers, which can have a lasting negative influence on our lives, is made particularly clear by the example of Abraham. As people increasingly devoted themselves to idolatry, God called Abraham out of the world in sovereign grace. He gave him unconditional promises in which the patriarch was to trust (see Gen. 12:1–3).
Then the faith of Abraham was tested by a famine in Canaan—and he failed. Abraham sought refuge in Egypt, an image of the world, hoping for a more comfortable life there. But the plan didn’t work. His time in Egypt interrupted his fellowship with God—with far-reaching consequences: The possessions he received in Egypt later led to a dispute between the shepherds of Lot and the shepherds of Abraham. How much strife there has been among believers because of possessions and money!
The Mindset of the World and Its Dangers
- Instead of looking upwards to heaven and trusting God would give rain at the right time, the Egyptians looked downward at the Nile irrigating the land. They didn’t see the source of the water in the mountains, but only the river itself (see Deut. 11:10–12). The world enjoys the blessings of creation, without seeing the Creator Who is behind it all.
Moreover, Hagar came from Egypt to the promised land. She is a picture of the covenant of the Law (see Gal. 4:21– 31), which is considered one of the elements of the world (see Col. 2:8, 20). Legal thinking that wants to achieve the promised blessing of God through its own efforts is completely contrary to the grace of God and cannot bear fruit for God.
In Hebrews 11 we read about the “treasures of Egypt.” It was on these earthly riches and ‘securities’ that the Egyptians trusted at that time, and it is exactly these in which people still put their trust today. Financial wealth contains the great danger for believers to act independently of God and to trust more in possessions than in the living God (see 1 Tim. 6:17)!
Are you willing to critically examine how much you rely on financial security and how much you really trust in God?
Trials: Escape or Trust in God?
As Abraham in his day, we’re also in great danger of trying to escape the trials through which God allows us to pass by fleeing to Egypt—figuratively speaking—by adapting to the spirit of this world without waiting for God and seeking His will.
In trials of faith the attraction of the world often increases for Christians. How quickly do we flee to Moab, figuratively speaking, because there’s a famine in Bethlehem (see Ruth 1)! Instead of securing food for God’s people with the energy of faith, as Gideon did, we rather have the tendency to retreat to our comfortable sofa, from where we judge the weak condition of other believers. It’s always easier and more comfortable to retreat or run away when, for example, a local meeting (church) is in a weak spiritual condition, instead of standing firm where God has placed us, depending on the Lord and doing the work of edification!
Christ – The Perfect Example
In the desert, Satan tempted the Lord Jesus with everything this world has to offer. How did the Son of God behave when He was confronted with the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life (see Luke 4:1–13)? Although He fasted for 40 days and was hungry, He didn’t use His power for His own benefit. He didn’t even want to eat anything without receiving an instruction from God. Nor did He take a shortcut on the way to dominion over this world, but remained faithful to God and went through suffering to glory. He also refused to put God to the test lightly, because He did everything in dependence on His Father and trusted Him with all His heart. In the end He resolutely went to Jerusalem knowing that He would not be put to shame (see Luke 9:51; Isa. 50:7).
How do you usually deal with trials that God allows in your life? Are you easily discouraged and try to give up, or do you try to stand firm and edify others where God has placed you? Take Moses as your example—“he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27). Be prepared to deny yourself today, to take up your cross and follow the One Who overcame the world!
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