Genesis 15:2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
“God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and the straightest paths to Himself – Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Tough times reveal the true character of a person. Crisis and crushing will bring the fragrance hidden in us to the open. The flavour of a person is unleashed in tight corners. The way we handle a challenge is who we really are. Pretension is uncovered in calamity but perseverance builds character.
Abraham had an honest conversation with the Lord in Genesis 15. It had already been 10 years since the Lord had promised him a child and his nephew Lot had separated and left to Sodom. When Abraham left his relatives and embarked on the faith journey he took Lot, his nephew with the intention of leaving his wealth behind to his blood relative. Lot was more than a nephew; he was like a son to Abraham. But when Lot went his way, and he remained childless, Abraham had a candid conversation with the Lord who called him out of his hometown; Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.
The Lord did not rebuke Abraham for his silly questions. The Lord patiently gave him reassurance and built his faith. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir” (vs 4). Abraham, the ‘father of faith’, was not always brimming and bursting with faith; He had his moments. But the Lord didn’t rebuke him for his depressing questions nor did he reprimand him for his despondency. He patiently responded to him.
Be real with God:
1. Candid: We don’t have to hide our feelings to God; He can see through us anyway. The Lord appreciates a candid conversation than an ostentatious hypocritical babble. We don’t have to cover-up; we can be candid about our disappointments and desperations before God.
2. Creative: The open conversation that Abraham had with God released the creative power of God in His life. We need a fresh rhema word when we are downtrodden and disheartened to revive the creative power of God in our lives.
3. Character: The way we handle crisis will either build or break our character. Being real with God will build our character. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Proverbs 24:10). The gestation of pregnancy is normally 9 months but to birth a nation the gestation period for Abraham and Sarah was 25 years. During the waiting period the Lord reformed and transformed their character to birth a nation. Patience and perseverance builds resilience, faith and character.
Be real with God. Have candid conversation with God and build character.
Psalm 86:8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.
Prayer: Father God, help me to relinquish religious prayers and have candid conversations with you. Amen.
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