By M. U. Adikwu
The Disappointments of Abraham
Abraham in the Bible is called the father of the faithful. How did he arrive at this title? Was it smooth for him all through life? Did he meet with disappointments? Abraham’s family was one that seemed to have walked with God. It seemed that the message to leave his father’s house to go to Canaan had first come to Abraham’s father although this is not very clear in the
Bible. In Genesis 11:31 we are told, that, “Tera took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldees to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.”
Thus, the journey to Canaan started with Abraham’s father, Tera. It should, however, be noted that the final journey which we are popularly familiar with came after the death of Tera. More noteworthy is the introductory sentence in Genesis 12:1, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”
Take a second look on the Lord had said to Abram…….”
This means it was actually in Genesis 11 that God spoke to Abraham; and as mentioned probably to his father too. Abraham did not leave Ur of the Chaldees to go to Canaan; it was his father who did. Abraham obeyed this call and left Haran to go to Canaan after his father’s death and left with his nephew Lot, who had become his liability through the action of
his father.
On this journey of faith, Abraham had some disappointments both from God and his nephew Lot. Abraham pitched his tent in Bethel (Genesis 12:8). It seems that before long there was famine in the land and Abraham went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe (Genesis12:10).
Many may accuse Abraham for going to Egypt without first of all praying and asking God. Supposing he prayed and God did not answer probably because it was His design to let Him go to Egypt? Most great men in the Bible visited Egypt one time or the other. We should also remember that most of that time God visited Abraham were not because he prayed. In fact, he built altars only after God visited him.
We should also remember that walking with God does not mean that we discuss with God at will. No. He chooses the time and the seasons to visit us. There are people who pray that anytime they ask God for anything He would talk to them. That would be wonderful but it is often not so. Even for the prophets in the Old Testament, the seasons, the times and the month were often recorded. This means that God does not at all times talk to even the prophets. Sometimes they had to wear ephods before God could speak. I am sure Abraham had some disappointments in this direction as we do today. While he was in Egypt, he had to tell a lie that Sarai was not his wife (Genesis 12:20).
If God had prevented him from going to Egypt through abundant supply, this
would not have befallen him. Abraham left Egypt and went back to Bethel (Genesis 13:1). There he prayed and called on the name of the LORD. By this time Lot, his brother’s son, had had an increase in his possession of herds and flocks and tents and as such the land they stayed together because of the large number of their possessions (Genesis 13:5-6).
Quarrelling arose between Abraham’s herdsmen and those of Lot (Genesis 13:7). This must have been a great disappointment to Abraham. His own nephew has grown big to challenge him. After all, his prosperity came because God was with Abraham. At this point
separation was inevitable. Abraham had to call a peace meeting between him and his
nephew (Genesis 13:8). Abraham requested that Lot should give him any portion of the land that was pleasing to him.
What a Godly man. He did not choose first. In his greed, “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the Land of Egypt, toward Zoar“ (Genesis 13:10). The poor boy would have told him, “You chose first, sir.” Lot decided to choose first because he could see green grass for his cattle. He did not know that it was the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He did not know that he was going to live among wicked people that the Lord had earmarked for destruction. God spoke to Abraham again after Lot had departed (Genesis 13:14). There are some relatives that may be obstacles to our walk with God. Before long, war broke out and Lot and his family and his possessions were taken away (Genesis 14). Does that sound funny?
Many of our choices in life that are based on human feelings can only lead us to trouble. How disappointed Abraham must have been with this nephew. Yet he went and rescued him from the hands of his captors. What a godly man Abraham was. No wander he is referred to as the
father of the faithful. In all these Abraham had not had a child. He had to express his disappointment openly to God at a particular time.
“O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus. You have given me no children, so a servant in my house will be my heir” (Genesis 15:2). Thank God, Abraham still referred to God as sovereign LORD. To some people in that situation, the LORD would no longer be sovereign. They will simply say, “This has passed issue for prayers,” thus, belittling God. In his disappointment Abraham still had hope. Do you have bad relatives? They can be rescued. Are you disappointed in God? He is still sovereign and will answer you at the appointed time.
The next disappointment Abraham had was with his wife. In Genesis 16:1 we are told that Sarah told Abraham, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go Sleep with
my maidservant; perhaps I can build my family through her” (Genesis 16:2).
And so, Abraham slept with Hagar, the Egyptian maiden of Sarah and she became pregnant. Before we continue to look at the disappointments of Abraham, let’s take a look at the statement of Sarah above.
“The LORD has kept me from having children.” For Sarah, it was the LORD. She recognized the sovereignty of the LORD. She did not attribute her problems to Abraham’s father’s idolatry. She did not associate her problem with one demon or the other. She did not attribute her problems to the “inability of her husband to perform.” She did not attribute her problems to the witches and wizards of Canaan. It was the LORD! The LORD is sovereign above all
principalities, powers and authority. If only we can view all our problems like that, it will be wonderful. In our generation all our problems are due to one demon, man or woman. These are strange doctrines.
Then, as typical of women, once Hagar conceived and began to despise her mistress, the problem was placed on the head of Abraham. “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she
despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me” (Genesis 16:5).
I am sure Abraham was disappointed with his wife. Abraham never told Hagar to despise her mistress. Yet, she is referred to as the root cause of her wife’s problems. That is the nature of man; always looking for where to put the blame. And so, the disappointments of Abraham
continued. Abraham was 86 years when Hagar bore Ishmael. God visited him again when he was 99 years (Genesis 16:16; Genesis 17:1). This was almost 13 years gap. You could imagine a man like Abraham not having fellowship with God for 12 years! Sarah did not look at the
damage she had caused to the relationship between God and Abraham. Instead, she was more concerned with the disobedience of her slave girl.
Meanwhile a covenant that will affect generations was at stake if Abraham had behaved like the men of our time. He might have decided to send Sarah away now that there was a productive little girl in his house. Thank God that he did not do that. From this point onwards, God kept confirming his covenant of Abraham’s own child through Sarah. Year after year his hope continued to be shaken while his confusion continued to increase. In fact, when God visited him Genesis 17:1, look at what he told him: “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” You cannot be a friend of God without being blameless or perfect. Thank God that Jesus died to earn us this perfection because being perfect before God is the most difficult thing to do. Today, God is looking at the perfection of Jesus in us and not our personal perfection. “Christ in you is the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
I am sure Abraham’s disappointment with himself increased when his wife died, some years after he has gotten Isaac. A man that was entitled to the inheritance of his father’s land had to buy a portion of land from the Hittites (Genesis 23). Does this speak to you? It may come to a
point that a man who is comfortable in his home is moved away to a different place either on assignment or as a missionary. The comfort he has enjoyed before becomes illusive as he has to look for a new accommodation which may not be available.
He has to learn to live in huts in some cases and many at times he has to adjust to new climate, new diet, new friends, etc. Finally, Abraham never inherited any land before his death! What a disappointment. The Bible only recorded that he died holding onto the promises (Hebrews 11:13). One thing was, however, clear. He saw the promises afar off with the eyes of faith. He and his descendants admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. How I wish we can think like this! It is one sure way of putting off every problem we encounter.
Adikwu writes from Abuja and can be reached on 08034378988; email adikwum@yahoo.com
