Genesis 12:10-13:18

As we see how Abraham responds to this crisis, it will reveal how we should handle two of the most difficult tests everyone of us will face as we pursue God’s calling for our lives.

Outline

  • First, Our calling is tested by adversity (12:10-20)
    • Adversity tests our trust in God’s protection (12:10-13)
    • Adversity tests our trust in God’s provision (12:14-16)
    • Adversity tests our trust in God’s plan (12:17-20)
  • Second, our calling is tested by abundance (13:1-18)
    • Abundance tests our commitment to our calling (13:1-4)
    • Abundance tests our character in our calling (13:5-13)
    • Abundance tests our convictions about our calling (13:12-18)

Christ Connections

  • Just as Abraham flees to Egypt we see the family of Jesus do the same in Matthew 2:13–15. God has filled Scripture with patterns to connect the covenant people and show our need to abandon our reliance on ourselves.

Applications

  • God calls each one of us on that same path to abandon our reliance on ourselves and instead rely on Jesus who frees us from the slavery of our sins and the anxiety of our adversity
  • Our marriages can show the exact same underlying root problems that we see in Abram. He saw his spouse as a risk to be managed, as a means to an end, as a matter of convenience rather than commitment. How can we avoid this same temptation?
  • When you compromise your character in the moment, it can create a crisis of character for a season; that’s what happens to Lot. Lot moves from the doorstep of the house of God to the doorstep of the city of sin. We must avoid the slow drawing sin and cling to the presence of God to avoid sin.
  • Where do you find yourself this morning, in a season of adversity or a season of abundance? Both can create a test for our commitment to God’s calling.
    • Adversity can fuel anxiety that tests our trust in God’s calling. 
    • Abundance can fuel apathy that tests our commitment to God’s calling.