Faith and Trust

 "By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

And yet . . . when threatened, he twice passed his wife off as his sister (technically true, but not the whole truth). When the promise in Genesis 12:2 became long in his eyes, he went in to his wife's maid to have a child. What does this reflect about his character? Seems likely he did not really love his wife. Or at least he did not respect her. 

I wonder how often Christian husbands are similarly tested, at every level. Does our physical desire for her so overwhelm us that we forget that she is the weaker vessel? Does our need for respect drive how we treat her? Even as the spiritual head, does our idea of mission come before her needs? Have we truly, like Christ and the church, given up our selves, and waited for her to respond? 

Some men have a very clear vision, and place the fulfillment of that vision above all else. It may be something he wants to accomplish, or something he wants to get. It may even be something he believes God is laying on his heart to do. None of these are inherently bad, but do they rise above the call to love our wives as ourselves? 

Abraham found out the hard way. The fulfillment of God's vision for him is God's business, not his. More important than self preservation, or accomplishing the vision, loving Sarah was really his only mission. Now obviously God still blessed them with a son, and grandchildren. But the reward for Abraham's impatience was a thorn in the side of his promised inheritance, which is still true today. 

Oswald Chambers writes, "Waiting for a vision that "tarries" is the true test of our faithfulness to God. It is at the risk of our own soul's welfare that we get caught up the practical busy work, only to miss the fulfillment of the vision". Saints, let's work patiently, but let the fulfillment of the vision be God's business.