Christian Leadershipনমুনা

Faith In Our Family

Scripture is saturated with leaders boldly living out their faith, then failing, and finding forgiveness. In just a few verses, Abram offers a step-by-step example of someone fulfilling God’s plan for his family, and then, captive to fear, formulating his plan.

Initially, Abram’s faith is so profound he leaves the certainty of the known (family heritage, community influence, and a secure future) for the unknown of God’s plan. There is to be no instantaneous bounty for Abram. Verse 7 shows that the scale and wonder of God’s plan were to be revealed through Abram’s yet unborn children. What an exercise in spiritual patience! Abram sets a lofty ideal for today’s family leaders and decision-makers: to see ourselves as foundation builders for God’s plan to be manifest in generations to come.

Then, when pressed by real and immediate threats, Abram lowers his gaze from his Father’s perfect plan. First, trapped by worry over food, he flees from the land God gave his family. Then in an attempt to secure his safety (v 13), he puts his marriage in jeopardy by telling Egypt’s king that Sarai is his sister! How many times do we lead those we love away from God’s plan because of our fears and doubts? In the days when our certainty of God’s goodness is at risk of being choked by the spiritual smog of doubt and fear, consider Abram. In his 99th year, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (the father of many nations) because no matter how far he strayed, how deep his doubts, Abram returned to God’s plan. 

Written by DWAYNE JEFFRIES