By: Obed Pineda
For the past several weeks, it has been the goal of this series to learn through Holy Writ the process implemented by God to forge Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith. Verily, it has been thoroughly evinced in the life of this holy couple that “blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). It is valuable to understand that the Greek word used for “temptation” in the pericope is peirasmos and is defined as “an experiment, attempt, trial, or proving” (Thayer, G3986). It is important to be able to understand the difference since the English word “temptation” can also be used to speak about a person being enticed to sin “when he is drawn away by his own desires” (James 1:14, emphasis added). Thus, there is no shred of doubt that Abraham’s and Sarah’s trials were purposed to “refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God’” (Zechariah 13:9, emphasis added). The Bible has illustrated the spiritual growth that Abraham and his wife have gained through their experiences. The most recent lesson taught to Abraham was to trust in the judgments of God, but also to have the confidence to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22a, emphasis added). He confirmed that “surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7, emphasis added). Therefore, his faith had been unequivocally placed into heaven’s furnace and molded by God’s hammer, strengthening it every time. Yet, it must not be forgotten that the art of the blacksmith does not rely on fire and hammer only. After hammering and molding the molted steel, the blacksmith dips it into cold water to harden his masterpiece. This part of the process is referred to as tempering the steel. When the blacksmith quenches the hot metal with cold water, he proceeds to examine his work for any deformations or rough edges that need to be smoothed over. If these improvements are necessary, then the blacksmith repeats the process of fire, hammer, and water until he is satisfied with his outcome. Thus, it is evident why God uses the imagery of a blacksmith to explain to Israel how He would “thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy” (Isaiah 1:25b, emphasis added). Here, the Almighty demonstrates that His chosen people still had deformations and rough edges that required reparations. The diligent Bible study will immediately recognize that in this passage Jehovah God is addressing Israel’s bad habit of avidly practicing injustice. Indeed, one cannot deny that old, bad habits are extremely difficult to break; especially if they transition into a lifestyle. It is the primary reason why Holy Writ urges man to seek God in his youth instead of when he is old, comfortably set in his habitual style of living (Psalm 119:9-11, Ecclesiastes 12:1-8). For this reason, the Holy Spirit instructs, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2, emphasis added). Our transformation must begin in our mind first “for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19, emphasis added). Let us understand that the Master is revealing that the root of sin is an undisciplined mind reflected in the lack of self-control. The apostle Peter corroborates this lesson as he exhorts “therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1st Peter 4:1-2, emphasis added). Thus, it is fascinating to learn that even though Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith had matured, there was still some “dross” and “alloy” that required to be purged before the son of promise was given. They had endured the furnace of affliction in the form of famine, separation, waiting, and most recently acceptance of God’s will by witnessing the obliteration of the wicked cities of the plain. The impact of this major event was so dreadful that Scripture reveals that “Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like smoke of a furnace” (Genesis 19:27-28, emphasis added). There is no question that to witness the wrath of God poured upon those who are rebellious to His commands, imprinted itself in the mind of Abraham. A memory that would always follow him until the day he ceased to exist in this world. However, it was also a memory that produced fear in him that quickly needed to be tempered by the Lord. The Bible teaches us that Abraham decides to move from there over to Gerar after this event (Genesis 20:1). His motives for journeying to Gerar are not revealed by the Holy Spirit, but He does reveal that Abraham had regrettably fallen back into an old, bad habit. Similar to when (24 years prior) he traveled to Egypt, “Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah” (Genesis 20:2). It is curious to learn that despite the shame he had endured in Egypt and the time that had transpired since then, Abraham would repeat the same error again. Lamentably, he once again put a man’s life in peril since God reveals to the king, “indeed you are a dead man because the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife” (Genesis 20:3b, emphasis added). Unlike Pharaoh, King Abimelech presents his integrity and claims his innocence by declaring that he was deceived by Abraham and Sarah; a truth validated by the Lord (Genesis 20:4-6). Thus, when Abimelech confronts Abraham about his deception he explains, “because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me on account of my wife” (Genesis 20:11, emphasis added). It is wise to notice that Abraham’s fear was what led him to lie about Sarah being his wife yet again. A fear that was unmerited since he had no evidence to substantiate his claim that God was not revered in that land. Thus, Abraham’s repeat offense originated in his unjust assumption bred from the wickedness of another nation. Abraham allowed his prejudiced thoughts to deceive him and to forget God’s providential hand upon him. The dreadful sight his eyes beheld at the remnant of what was once the cities of the plain, had made him afraid of entering into another nation doomed to a similar fate. For this reason, it was essential for Abraham to learn how to temper his mind. To be continued…