This past Sunday we considered Abram’s response when he no sooner settled in the Land of Canaan, the land God promised him, when a severe famine occurred. It was so severe Abram had to take his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot and journey down to Egypt in search of food.
Famines, of course, strike all of our lives. They may not be in the form of lack of rain, but like Abram, as we journey in our life of faith, famines strike. Events occur that upset our routine and disrupt our plans; they may involve disappointment or even suffering. Such famines might be in the form of medical hardship, relational break-ups, financial collapse, the death of a loved one, etc. During such times our faith may be tested, and we may even sense that God is absent.
When Abram was faced with famine, he lost sight of God and His promises and came up with his own plan. That resulted in some unfortunate choices and disastrous consequences (Gen. 12:10-20).
This reminds us how important it is that we continually nurture our relationship with God. God is faithful. He is with us always. As Ps. 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” And God said in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” When we are nurturing our relationship with God, committing our ways to Him, we will sense His guidance and experience His presence. He will give us the confidence and direction we need during times of famine.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob