To “Assume” and “Assist”

To “Assume” and “Assist”

Well, I hope you haven’t given up on me!  It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a new blog.  I’ve been concentrating on writing my next book in the Genesis Bible study series.  I am currently working on “A Lot to Handle” Genesis 12-20.  I just love it when I get to spend time combing through God’s Word, inserting myself in the story and praying on how I can best communicate insights the Lord gives me.  I like to encourage my readers to imagine themselves in the story they are studying.  It helps us relate to the people the Lord is interacting with.  The people of the Bible are very normal and real.  I enjoy bringing to life the very things they experienced in life just as we experience today.

In “A Lot to Handle”, I am opening the curtain to Abram’s life and his dealings with Lot, his nephew.  Lot is a constant concern for Abram because Lot has dealt with a lot of emotional loss.  His mother is never mentioned in scripture.  It seems she was not a part of Lot’s life.  He loses his father and so his grandfather becomes his guardian.  Later, his grandfather dies and Abram (later becomes known as Abraham) becomes his guardian.  So, some of the study is focused on the heavy responsibility Abram deals with as he raises Lot; a somewhat wayward young man struggling to overcome his losses.

However,  this blog is not really about Lot.  It is about Abram and how human he is.  God has called Abram to leave his home and country and journey to a land God promises to Abram’s descendants in Genesis 12.  Sarai is barren yet in Abram’s faith, he steps out of his comfort zone and journeys toward this promised land his descendants will inherit.  On their journey, they encounter a famine and Abram, Sarai (Abram’s wife) and Lot take a detour to Egypt.

When they arrive there, Abram is fearful the Pharaoh of  Egypt will see how pretty Sarai is.  If Pharaoh knows she is Abram’s wife, he might take her into his harem and kill Abram!  So, Abram tells Pharaoh she is Abram’s sister.  This way, Pharaoh will treat Abram favorably, and they will all stay alive!

How many times have you assumed the worst in someone?  How many times has your mind gone to the worst case scenario?  I am so guilty of assuming the worst case scenario that my husband actually jokes about it!  If you are a mother, I think this comes naturally!  I was brought up to “hope for the best but prepare for the worst”!  Well, this is what we see Abram do!

Abram predicted the pharaoh’s response to Sarai correctly.  He was definitely attracted to her.  So, Abram tells Pharaoh that Sarai is his sister and Pharaoh unknowingly takes another man’s wife into his harem.  He predicted that Pharaoh would be favorable to him; and he was.  Pharaoh gave Abram all kinds of goodies when Abram left Egypt.  But Sarai would be taken in to another man’s bedroom and the pharaoh’s household would suffer a terrible plague.  This was all because Abram “assumed” the worst and “assisted” God to achieve the only outcome Abram thought was possible.

Here are the points I want to make in this blog.

First, Abram “assisted” God and took a detour to Egypt to avoid enduring a famine.  If God provided for Noah while on the ark for a year, he was perfectly capable of providing for Abram during a famine.  The detour to Egypt would compromise the plan.

God had promised Abram a future.  God had promised Abram descendants.  We often forget what God shows us, tells us, and promises us!  Abram “assumed” he was going to die because he thought Pharaoh would kill him to get to Sarai.  So, Abram “assisted” God by telling a lie to protect himself.  This put Sarai in a compromising position; it put Pharaoh and his household in an unhealthy situation.  God protected Sarai by making her barren at the time.  This way, she would not produce offspring through Pharaoh.  Often, life’s disappointments are actually God’s protection even though we don’t realize it at the time.

When we “assume” the worst in someone or some situation, then we are tempted to “assist” God in handling it.  This puts everyone in jeopardy and reveals our lack of faith in God’s promises and ability to navigate us through the circumstance.  If you want to read Genesis 12, you can get a better idea of the depth of this story!

I hope you will pick up a copy of “In the Beginning” Genesis 1-11 by Janice Bobanis on Amazon.  I will be launching my next Bible study, “A Lot to Handle” as soon as I get finished with it!  Stay tuned through Janice Bobanis’ facebook and instagram pages!  Until then….

Remember, never “assume” the worst and “assist” the Lord when His promises tell you otherwise!

Blessings,

Janice Bobanis