Abraham And His Two Tests Series

The Story of Us

Abraham and His Two Tests

February 9, 2025

We all risk losing a part of our identity if we do not know the stories of our past.

Genesis 12:1-7, 10-20

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

The obedience test

What does obedience look like?

1. A sincere passion to know the ways of God.

Psalm 103:7 NIV

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.”

Jesus – I only do what the father says

2. A commitment to keep going.

Jesus – take up your cross and follow me

The fear test

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace.

17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

This happens three times to Abraham!! (Ch. 20, 26)

Abram is afraid. Fear causes him to make unwise choices.

The same guy that was willing to pack up everything and move his family to a foreign place is the same guy who was afraid of losing his wife.

Fear can creep into the soul of even the bravest men and women.

We must constantly make sure we’re not making decisions out of fear.

Human history should have ended in Genesis 11, but God spoke to a barren couple and they obeyed him!

This is a story of grace!!

God steps into a hopeless future and speaks life!

When we have come to the end of our possibilities, our human barrenness, God steps in to redeem our story!

John 14:27b NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”