Battle Between Faith & Fear
“Now there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
- Genesis 12:10-13
Abram is one of the most significant figures in all of Scripture. He is the father of the faith, the man God chose to form a nation, and the one through whom the lineage of Jesus would come. Yet in Genesis 12, we see Abram in a moment that feels painfully human. A famine hits the land, resources are scarce, and uncertainty sets in. Fear begins to shape his thinking. Instead of trusting God with his safety and his future, Abram chooses self preservation. As they approach Egypt, Abram looks at his wife Sarai and recognizes her beauty, but rather than trusting God to protect them both, he asks her to lie. His decision is rooted in fear of what might happen. He is worried about his own life, his own safety, and his own reputation. In that moment, Abram places his comfort above obedience and gives Sarai up instead of standing in faith and protecting her. Fear leads him to make a fleshly and selfish decision.
What makes this story so powerful is not Abram’s mistake but God’s response. God does not abandon Abram. He does not revoke His calling. He does not say the plan is over. Instead, God intervenes. He protects Sarai. He confronts Pharaoh. He preserves the promise even when Abram fails to do so. This reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection.
Many of us can relate to Abram more than we want to admit. We have made decisions based on fear. We have chosen the option that felt safest instead of the one that was right. We have tried to protect ourselves, our image, or our future rather than fully trusting God. And often, we carry regret for those moments. But this story reminds us that our failures do not disqualify us. God can still use us. He can still redeem our story. He can still work through our mess and turn it into something meaningful for His kingdom. At the same time, this passage challenges us to grow. When fear shows up again, we are invited to choose faith. When opposition comes, we are called to do what is right, even if it costs us. Trusting God means believing that obedience is always safer than fear, no matter how uncertain the outcome may seem.
Reflection Questions
Where in my life am I allowing fear to influence my decisions rather than trusting God
What would it look like for me to choose faith and obedience in my current situation
Application
Take time today to confess any fear driven decisions to God and receive His grace
Commit to making the right choice the next time fear presents itself, trusting God with the outcome