Have you felt anxious about the future, unsure of what lies ahead? Abraham received God’s promises but struggled to trust in His word.
In Genesis 20, as Abraham and Sarah traveled through various regions, Abraham asked Sarah to say he was her brother to protect his life. This was the second time they had lied about their marriage relationship as they entered the region of Gerar. This incident reflected Abraham’s lack of faith in God's ability to protect him and his family wherever they went.
Abraham justified his sin by saying, in verse 11, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place…” (This) was Abraham’s excuse for his sinful deception, but the real problem was that the fear of God wasn’t in Abraham. If he respected the LORD, His commandments, His promises, and His protection, then Abraham would have never trusted in his (own) efforts to keep his family safe and together.” (David Guzik’s Online Bible Commentary)
How often have we failed to fear and trust God in various areas of our lives? I have yielded to fear, anxious thoughts, and apprehension- especially the fear of the unknown- despite God's clear promise in His word that He is with me and will never leave or forsake me. Do we genuinely believe that He is who He claims to be in Scripture? Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
If we believe that God is the Lord God, Creator of the heavens and earth and that He is the Almighty, All-Knowing, Ever-Present God, then we can be confident that He will keep His promises regardless of how we feel and what we see. Our hope doesn’t rest on our effort but on the unchanging truth and reliability of who He is and what He states in His word. By trusting God, we can walk in the fear of the Lord acknowledging that He alone is God and worthy of all reverence and honor. He alone sovereignly rules over all the earth and is in complete control. Because He alone is God we can trust Him in every area of our lives. Isaiah 41:10 - “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”