February 12th, 2025
by Pastor Phil Morgan
by Pastor Phil Morgan
Faith is an adventure - a journey filled with winding paths, ups and downs, triumphs and stumbles. Yet through it all, holding onto the Lord and moving forward is a profound way to live. For those who have walked with God for years, there's a resounding testimony: He has never failed.
To understand faith, picture a frozen lake in winter. The crucial factor isn't your confidence as a skater, but whether the ice is thick enough to support you. Weak faith in thick ice will suffice, just as weak faith in a great God is all you need. It's not the size of your faith that ultimately matters, but the size and strength of the One in whom you place that faith.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in the life of Abraham, held up in the Bible as a great example of faith. He demonstrated remarkable obedience, leaving behind his entire prior life at God's command. Later, he was even willing to sacrifice his promised son, simply because God told him to. These were mountaintop moments of incredible trust.
Yet the Bible doesn't portray Abraham as having perfect faith. It presents him, like all its characters, "warts and all." There were times when Abraham's faith stumbled, particularly during long waiting periods and in the face of danger.
In Genesis 16, we see Abraham and Sarah growing impatient for the promised son. Sarah suggests Abraham have a child with her servant, Hagar, as a surrogate. Abraham agrees, deviating from God's plan and creating a complicated situation that would have far-reaching consequences.
Earlier, in Genesis 12, Abraham's faith faltered in the face of potential danger. Fearing for his life in Egypt, he told Sarah to claim she was his sister, putting her at risk. Shockingly, he repeated this deception years later with another ruler. These lapses stemmed from fear and self-preservation, revealing how even great men of faith can stumble when they take their eyes off God's promises.
These stories serve as powerful warnings about the danger of old sins and the importance of fully dealing with our shortcomings. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." We must be vigilant against recurring temptations and avoid making excuses for our behavior.
Yet the most profound lesson from Abraham's life is not his failures, but God's unwavering faithfulness despite them. When our faith wavers, God remains steadfast. He is the ultimate fulfillment of Proverbs 18:24 - "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
This truth finds its perfect expression in Jesus Christ. Where Abraham faltered, Jesus stands firm. Abraham jeopardized his wife in Egypt to save himself; Jesus came into the world to deliver and protect His bride (the Church) at the cost of His own life. In John 17, we see Jesus praying fervently for His followers, asking the Father to keep them safe in the world. He promises in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
Perhaps the most striking illustration of God's grace comes in an unexpected place - the story of Hagar. Cast out and alone in the wilderness, this Egyptian servant woman becomes the first person in Scripture to encounter "the angel of the Lord" - understood to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The God of the universe sees and cares for this rejected woman, revealing Himself as "El Roi" - the God who sees.
This moment carries profound implications. It shows that God's heart has always been for all nations, not just the Israelites. It demonstrates His concern for the marginalized and overlooked. Most powerfully, it reveals a God who seeks us out even when we're at our lowest, offering hope and a future.
The prophet Isaiah captures this comforting truth:
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:28-29)
Our God never tires of dealing with us, helping us, and working in our lives. His wisdom is unfathomable, and His strength never fails. Even when we stumble, if we keep moving forward in faith, believing His promises, He will be faithful. He will hold us to the finish line, renewing our strength day by day.
The adventure of faith isn't about achieving perfection. It's about perseverance - staying on the journey even when we falter. It's about trusting in a God who sees us, understands us completely, and never leaves our side.
As we reflect on these truths, let's be encouraged. Our faith may be imperfect, but our God is not. He is the unwavering friend who sticks closer than a brother, the one who sees us in our wilderness moments, and the source of strength that never runs dry.
Whatever challenges you face today, whatever doubts may creep in, remember: the adventure of faith is not about your ability to hold onto God, but His promise to never let you go. Keep stumbling forward, for you are held by hands that will never fail.
To understand faith, picture a frozen lake in winter. The crucial factor isn't your confidence as a skater, but whether the ice is thick enough to support you. Weak faith in thick ice will suffice, just as weak faith in a great God is all you need. It's not the size of your faith that ultimately matters, but the size and strength of the One in whom you place that faith.
This truth is beautifully illustrated in the life of Abraham, held up in the Bible as a great example of faith. He demonstrated remarkable obedience, leaving behind his entire prior life at God's command. Later, he was even willing to sacrifice his promised son, simply because God told him to. These were mountaintop moments of incredible trust.
Yet the Bible doesn't portray Abraham as having perfect faith. It presents him, like all its characters, "warts and all." There were times when Abraham's faith stumbled, particularly during long waiting periods and in the face of danger.
In Genesis 16, we see Abraham and Sarah growing impatient for the promised son. Sarah suggests Abraham have a child with her servant, Hagar, as a surrogate. Abraham agrees, deviating from God's plan and creating a complicated situation that would have far-reaching consequences.
Earlier, in Genesis 12, Abraham's faith faltered in the face of potential danger. Fearing for his life in Egypt, he told Sarah to claim she was his sister, putting her at risk. Shockingly, he repeated this deception years later with another ruler. These lapses stemmed from fear and self-preservation, revealing how even great men of faith can stumble when they take their eyes off God's promises.
These stories serve as powerful warnings about the danger of old sins and the importance of fully dealing with our shortcomings. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." We must be vigilant against recurring temptations and avoid making excuses for our behavior.
Yet the most profound lesson from Abraham's life is not his failures, but God's unwavering faithfulness despite them. When our faith wavers, God remains steadfast. He is the ultimate fulfillment of Proverbs 18:24 - "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
This truth finds its perfect expression in Jesus Christ. Where Abraham faltered, Jesus stands firm. Abraham jeopardized his wife in Egypt to save himself; Jesus came into the world to deliver and protect His bride (the Church) at the cost of His own life. In John 17, we see Jesus praying fervently for His followers, asking the Father to keep them safe in the world. He promises in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
Perhaps the most striking illustration of God's grace comes in an unexpected place - the story of Hagar. Cast out and alone in the wilderness, this Egyptian servant woman becomes the first person in Scripture to encounter "the angel of the Lord" - understood to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The God of the universe sees and cares for this rejected woman, revealing Himself as "El Roi" - the God who sees.
This moment carries profound implications. It shows that God's heart has always been for all nations, not just the Israelites. It demonstrates His concern for the marginalized and overlooked. Most powerfully, it reveals a God who seeks us out even when we're at our lowest, offering hope and a future.
The prophet Isaiah captures this comforting truth:
"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:28-29)
Our God never tires of dealing with us, helping us, and working in our lives. His wisdom is unfathomable, and His strength never fails. Even when we stumble, if we keep moving forward in faith, believing His promises, He will be faithful. He will hold us to the finish line, renewing our strength day by day.
The adventure of faith isn't about achieving perfection. It's about perseverance - staying on the journey even when we falter. It's about trusting in a God who sees us, understands us completely, and never leaves our side.
As we reflect on these truths, let's be encouraged. Our faith may be imperfect, but our God is not. He is the unwavering friend who sticks closer than a brother, the one who sees us in our wilderness moments, and the source of strength that never runs dry.
Whatever challenges you face today, whatever doubts may creep in, remember: the adventure of faith is not about your ability to hold onto God, but His promise to never let you go. Keep stumbling forward, for you are held by hands that will never fail.
Posted in Abraham: The Adventure of Faith
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