Athlete, Wait
*This devotional series was written by the AIA staff team at the University of Virginia
Read Genesis 12:10-20 & Psalm 3
Abram's journey to Egypt foreshadows two future journeys. Abram's great-grandchildren make this same journey due to another famine, and they would remain in Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 42 - Exodus 14). Jesus, too, undergoes exile in Egypt when his life is under threat from King Herod (Luke 2). Abram, Abram's great-grandchildren, and Jesus are all recipients of the covenant-promises of God, and all of them had to wait on God to fulfill his promises. Both literally and figuratively, they had to endure exile in Egypt while they waited on God's promised land and blessing.
In this passage, we see that even though Abram is a man of great faith, his faith is shaky at times. Instead of trusting in God's protection, he believes that he needs to take matters into his own hands, using deception in order to spare his life. The result is disastrous, at least temporarily, for Pharoah's household, yet we see God's faithfulness to his promises as He still protects and blesses Abram and Sarai in spite of their wavering faith.
Like Abram, all of us fail to trust as we wait on the promises of God, but Christians are comforted by the knowledge that Jesus, who willingly endured our exile from the promised land of God, trusted perfectly on our behalf.
Questions for Reflection and Prayer
1. In what ways is God calling you to wait on him in faith? Where are you tempted to take matters into your own hands through deceptive or unethical practices in order to fulfill your desire for security or satisfaction? Is God your "shield" today (Psalm 3), or are you looking for a different shield?
2. Our desires for the fullness of God's presence and blessing are good desires, and Jesus shared these desires (e.g. John 17:24). In what ways did Jesus suffer exile and wait, perfectly, on the promises of God?
Read Genesis 12:10-20 & Psalm 3
Abram's journey to Egypt foreshadows two future journeys. Abram's great-grandchildren make this same journey due to another famine, and they would remain in Egypt for 400 years (Genesis 42 - Exodus 14). Jesus, too, undergoes exile in Egypt when his life is under threat from King Herod (Luke 2). Abram, Abram's great-grandchildren, and Jesus are all recipients of the covenant-promises of God, and all of them had to wait on God to fulfill his promises. Both literally and figuratively, they had to endure exile in Egypt while they waited on God's promised land and blessing.
In this passage, we see that even though Abram is a man of great faith, his faith is shaky at times. Instead of trusting in God's protection, he believes that he needs to take matters into his own hands, using deception in order to spare his life. The result is disastrous, at least temporarily, for Pharoah's household, yet we see God's faithfulness to his promises as He still protects and blesses Abram and Sarai in spite of their wavering faith.
Like Abram, all of us fail to trust as we wait on the promises of God, but Christians are comforted by the knowledge that Jesus, who willingly endured our exile from the promised land of God, trusted perfectly on our behalf.
Questions for Reflection and Prayer
1. In what ways is God calling you to wait on him in faith? Where are you tempted to take matters into your own hands through deceptive or unethical practices in order to fulfill your desire for security or satisfaction? Is God your "shield" today (Psalm 3), or are you looking for a different shield?
2. Our desires for the fullness of God's presence and blessing are good desires, and Jesus shared these desires (e.g. John 17:24). In what ways did Jesus suffer exile and wait, perfectly, on the promises of God?
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2019
May
Athlete, God CreatesAthlete, You're Made In His ImageAthlete, RestAthlete, RememberAthlete, God UnitesAthlete, Don't FallAthlete, Pain and Frustration Will EndAthlete, Stop ComparingAthlete, There Is No Middle RoadAthlete, Step Out In FaithAthlete, You're CleanAthlete, Know The CovenantAthlete, Know the NationsAthlete, Divisions ExistAthlete, God Makes PromisesAthlete, WaitAthlete, Location MattersAthlete, Who Is Melchizedek?Athlete, You Are IncludedAthlete, God Sees YouAthlete, God Gives Us Signs
June
Athlete, Be RemindedAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Reflect On His MercyAthlete, God Keeps CoveringAthlete, The Wait Is OverAthlete, God Tests Athlete, Put On The QualitiesAthlete, Be ChallengedAthlete, God works Evil For GoodAthlete, Glory is ComingAthlete, God Saves Messy PeopleAthlete, God Provides Athlete, God's in Control Athlete, God is PatientAthlete, Step Out in FaithAthlete, See the MarkersAthlete, Take Time to PrayAthlete, Let's Talk About Fresh StartsAthlete, Love is The CureAthlete, Grace is OffensiveAthlete, See the ForeshadowAthlete, Don't ForgetAthlete, God is NearAthlete, Are You Willing To Learn?Athlete, Give Thanks
July
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August
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