Lapses in Faith and Listening More

So, I am still working my way through Genesis and figured it was time for an update. I have to say that other than the more difficult reading, Genesis reads a lot like a soap opera.  I know, I probably shouldn’t make light of it, but it does when you think about it.  There are multiple wives, men offering up their wives to other men, lying, half-truths, swindling. I know that we often talk about worrying about what our children see on TV, but I have to be honest, I wouldn’t be completely comfortable with my soon to be 8-year old reading the Old Testament, or at least the uncut version.  So, she’ll be sticking with her children’s version for a while. 

For inquiring minds (not that there are many), I have read through Genesis 33, or from Adam and Eve to the reunion of Jacob and his brother, Esau.  I have read through a ton of “begats” and I have to be honest here, I have to keep going back and forth to make sure I have all the relationships straight.  People had A LOT of children back then and with the intertwined families, I am struggling to keep up. Do they make one of those “for Dummies” readers for the Bible? I feel like I might need one.

Now, in all seriousness, there is one great lesson that I am learning through my reading.  Even the most faithful of us have lapses in faith and screw up.  Abraham (and then his son, Isaac) both showed a lapse of faith when they said that their wives were their sisters because they were fearful that they would be harmed because of their wife’s beauty. Abraham even repeated this lie. They didn’t have faith that God would protect them. 

However, these lapses in faith are in direct contrast to the total faith Abraham showed when he was asked to sacrifice Isaac and the faith Isaac showed in his father when he didn’t resist.  In hearing this story, I have always thought of Isaac as a child, but after researching it seems that the most popular thought is that Isaac was actually an older teenager or young adult.  So, with this thought in mind, it would seem that Isaac could have probably very easily resisted his father.  However, instead, he allowed his father to bind him, knowing what the end result would be.  As for Abraham, he was being asked by God to sacrifice his child, the miracle that he and Sarah had waited so long for.  He was told, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love.” (Genesis 22:2)  I think there is definitely a parallel here between the sacrifice Abraham is asked to make and the eventual sacrifice of Jesus.  Abraham and Isaac showed the ultimate Faith in God’s plan and in the end, Isaac was saved.  WHEW!  I have to say that I am glad I already knew the ending to that one. 
I have to admit, I don’t think my faith is anywhere near the level of Abraham’s faith.  If asked to sacrifice my child by God, I don’t think it would happen.  Of course, if God ever speaks to me the way described in the Bible, there is a good chance I will pass out.  Don’t get me wrong, I know I have heard his voice in decisions throughout my life and admittedly, I have ignored that voice more times that I would like to admit. I’m a work in progress…I’m working on listening more and talking less, both in my relationship with God and everyone else.  However, I have most definitely not heard his voice in the way it reads in Genesis.  Or, if I did, I was distracted by something else, probably chocolate.  The good thing is that I am working on being more faithful.  I really do try to be better every day and I truly know that I am God’s work in progress.  I am comforted by the fact that even Abraham, who is known for his faith and obedience to the Lord, also had lapses in faith and didn’t always do the right thing. It just reinforces my belief that there is Hope for me and everyone else in this world.

Disclaimer:  My levity is in no way meant as disrespect or in any other way as negativity.  It is just me.  I try to not take myself too seriously, as hopefully any of my friends reading this already know.