Every Journey Begins With a StepSample

Prepare the next generation.

It’s incredible to think about the fact that our faith journey is not for us alone. As God grows us, He uses our experiences as an example for others. Therefore, we need to continue to share what we learn with those around us so they can witness and trust the faithfulness of God along with us.

We see several examples of this in Abraham’s story.

First, we see how Abraham’s faith has impacted his servant when it’s time to find a wife for Isaac. Although the servant was unsure of the journey, he had witnessed God’s faithfulness to Abraham and trusted God would be with him. He prayed and trusted God each step of the way. As a result, he found Rebekah and brought her to Isaac.

Isaac grew up watching his dad trust God. We know Abraham was obedient to God, even willing to sacrifice his son. Isaac saw his dad obey and God provide. As an adult, Isaac trusted God’s process in finding a wife. He took Rebekah as his wife without ever even seeing her face. He trusted his father, his father’s servant, and ultimately, God to provide for him. He “loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.” (Gen 24:67).

Later, when faced with another famine, Isaac chose the better way. He had seen his dad make mistakes and learned from them. So Isaac obeyed when God instructed him not to return to Egypt, as his father did in the previous famine.

Just like Abraham, we won’t always get it right. But we must acknowledge the effect our actions have on those around us. It might have been even more powerful for Isaac to witness his father’s failures and see how God was still faithful.

My kids have watched me mess up over and over. But what’s most important is that I admit when I’m wrong, ask for forgiveness, and then choose differently the next time. It takes practice to grow into the person God’s called us to be. God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does want our hearts. So when we are committed to following Him and learning from our mistakes, He’ll use our story to impact others. God is a God of redemption, and He uses us to bring His healing and restoration to those around us.

How might God use your story to impact others?