Imperfect Abraham – Imperfect Me | Grandma's Ramblings

While reading through Genesis this year with my husband, I again questioned the story of Abraham.

Abraham is honored and recognized as an important part of three religions: Jewish, Christian and Islam. 

James in the New Testament tells us he was “the friend of God.” His story is told in Hebrews 11 – the Faith Chapter – where we are told it is by faith that he left his homeland and journeyed to an unknown land. Over and over the Bible points to Abraham as an example of great faith.

Yet as I read the story of Abraham, I find a couple of times when I question “where was his faith” and ask myself “how could he do that?”

Twice in the story of Abraham we are told that he asked his wife to tell everyone she was his sister. There was some truth to that as it appears he was his half-sister.

“She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife” Genesis 20:12

But the reason he wanted her to tell people this “half-truth” was to protect himself and was therefore deceitful.

“As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are.  When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live.  Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you’”. Genesis 12:11-13

Genesis 20 tells us of a second time he asked Sarah to basically lie to protect his life. This time the ruler actually sent for Sarah and had her taken to his palace where he would make her his wife.

While protecting himself, what kind of protection was he giving Sarah? She could have been forced into having a sexual relationship with the ruler over her own objections. 

In both of these situations God was merciful to Abraham and Sarah. In spite of their weakness, He miraculously protected both of them and allowed them to return to Canaan. 

Clearly Abraham was not showing much faith in God’s ability to keep them safe. I wondered what Sarah felt in these situations. 

As I read these stories my first reaction was “How could he be called a man of faith, a friend of God when he showed such lack of faith. How could he treat his wife this way?” 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized Abraham’s story is a source of hope for me. Here is a man who had moments of doubt. A man who sometimes made wrong decisions. A man who sometimes was selfish. Yet here was a man who over all did trust God and seek to obey him.

In Abraham I see remarkable faith and incredible doubt. His story actually encourages me. Perhaps I can see myself. His story reminds me that even when I fail in my walk with God, God does not desert me. He does not cast me aside as totally worthless for His kingdom. It shows me that God uses imperfect people. 

I began to think of others in the Bible who, like me, sometimes failed to live up to God’s standards, yet was still used of God. 

“Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossiper, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient, Elijah was depressed, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead…God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualified the Called!”….Vetus Ordo

His story reminds me no matter how long I may walk with God, how “spiritual” I am become, I am not perfect. I can make poor decisions. I can disobey. It reminds me to continually check my relationship with Jesus. 

“Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

The King James version of the Bible says “Take heed that you do not fall.”  ”Take heed” means “to watch carefully, be careful, be vigilant, or be on the lookout.”

Thank you, Abraham, for encouraging me that God can and will use me in spite of my failures. Thank you for reminding me to watch carefully and be vigilant that I do not drift in my relationship with God.