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The Power of Weakness

Words of Faith Final

The Power of Weakness
Words of Faith 4-11-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 20
    Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, [2] and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
    [3] But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."
    [4] Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? [5] Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."
    [6] Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. [7] Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die."

      Haven't we heard this story before? Is this 'déjàvu'? No. But this is the very thing that happened in Genesis chapter 12 when Abram journeyed down to Egypt! Abram passed off Sarai as his sister on that trip because he was afraid of Pharaoh. At that time, it was early in the faith journey of Abram and Sarai. We could understand why Abram lacked faith. He had not yet seen much of God's power. But now? Shouldn't things be different?
      Abram was now called Abraham, a Covenant name. The Lord had made Abraham victorious in the war against the kings that captured Lot (ch. 14). Abraham had made a Covenant with the Lord God and witnessed the very presence of God in the form of a smoking firepot and blazing torch (ch. 15).
      Abraham had met with the Lord God under the oaks at Mamre and served him a meal (ch. 18)! Abraham had witnessed the mighty hand of God against the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah (ch. 19). God had sustained Abraham and his family in their journeys. Why would Abraham suddenly tell the same cowardly lie, saying that Sarah was his sister? There is an answer.
       We may not like it, but the truth is Abraham had a vulnerable weakness, and it was his faith! How can that be? Isn't Abraham the original "man of faith"? The inventor of the "faith walk"? The Patriarch that started it all?
       Yes. But God probably did not choose Abraham because of his strong faith. He likely chose him because of his weak faith! That is the way God usually works. God was building great faith in Abraham, but "faith" itself would always remain his soft spot.
       When Abraham encountered Abimelech, the fears attacked. Worries overwhelmed him, and suddenly Abraham fell backward into his old survival pattern and told a lie. It was his favorite lie because it was sort of true. Technically, Sarah was his half-sister, but she was also his wife and deserved protection, especially because she was to be the mother of the promised nation! Abraham fell back into his one area of vulnerability.
        What do we learn here?
        First, we learn that God works in human weakness. God never chooses anyone because of their strengths. He chooses us because of our weaknesses so that He may be shown to be faithful and powerful. Our weaknesses remain a constant reminder of our need for God. Abraham needed more than ever to throw himself at the feet of God rather than resort to his old way of managing fear.
        The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Cor. 12:9). There is great power in weaknesses that are surrendered to God. Lot failed to submit his weakness to God. Abraham and Paul learned to do so.
         We also learn that weaknesses remain. Abraham will get stronger in his faith, but this area would always remain vulnerable to attack. We all have our vulnerable areas. Men of great faith are sometimes clouded by periods of enormous doubt! People of great integrity often struggle with serious temptation. We all have weak areas we need to recognize and ask God to reinforce daily! We need to realize that there are no "great leaders," just one great God!
         We are all on a journey of greater faith. Faith and integrity are built over time yet always remain vulnerable. Even after powerful experiences with God, we can fall back just as Abraham did. Vigilant humility before God is always the order of the day.

         Father, I recognize that You work in the realm of human weaknesses. Use my weaknesses for Your glory. Build me up by Your strength. Protect my vulnerable places. Strengthen me by Your might! I put myself wholly at Your mercy. My only strength is in You! My only hope is in You! I am humbly Your servant. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.