Genesis 12:7: “And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, ‘Unto your seed will I give this land’: and there built he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.”
But in verse 10 we read, “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.”
We learn from this that sometimes God leads us into a place where there is troubles. It didn’t mean Abram missed God’s direction, or that God made a mistake, or that God had abandoned him. But all victories come through trials and difficulties. We are descendants of Adam and Eve. Its a fallen world.
God’s promise to give the land to Abram’s descendants, even though he had none yet, stood firm. Abram was walking by sight, not by faith. Faith requires patience. We must wait for God’s perfect timing and not give up in the times of famine.
Tags: famine, patience, tests
A bank manager saw a new employee eagerly counting $100 bills. “You look like an industrious young man,” the manager said. “Where did you receive your financial education?”
“Yale,” replied the man.
“Excellent,”: responded the manger as he shook the worker’s hand and introduced himself. “And what’s your name?”
“Yim Yohnson,” the young man answered.
Even the best of us can fool some of the people some of the time. But, did you know you can’t fool God even some of the time. He knows our every thought and our every motive. He sets us up with opportunities to succeed or fail just to watch how we deal with it. And He doesn’t grade on a curve. If you flunk the test, you’ve got to take the course all over again. Look for the God-arranged tests and make sure you pass with flying colors. He’s watching.
Tags: money, motive, tests
There is an old legend that a king once placed a heavy stone in the roadway. Then he hid and waited to see who would remove it. Many who came by loudly blamed the government for not keeping the roadway clear, but none assumed the duty of pushing the obstacle out of the way. At last a poor peasant stopped and rolled it into the gutter. To his surprise he found a bag full of gold embedded in the road beneath the spot where the rock had been. A note said it was the king’s reward for anyone who removed the troublesome object.
I’ve, likewise, discovered that there are rewards waiting for me every time I take action to solve a problem in someone else’s life. And behind every trial that is an obstacle to my way, I discover that they were placed there for my good, for my growth. I expect God to test my path everyday to see how I’m doing at living for Jesus. Each test requires me to lift my eyes heavenward and see it as an opportunity for spiritual reward. Keep your eyes open.
Tags: opportunities, rewards, tests