Thoughts for another day

April 16, 2012

Today's verse: Gen. 15:12.  And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Many of us have read this Word and glossed over it because we might have hardly seen its depth and contextual applicability in our lives.  This verse is at the verge of God's major covenant with Abraham, a covenant with benefits to his descendents presupposing that he would become a father even at that ripe old age and that he would have numerous descendents, descended from him!

The thing to notice in the verse is 1. Abraham is caught in a deep sleep (which one would assume is not normal) and 2. A horror of great darkness fell upon him.  Here's where we can draw extensions for our lives in that when the darkness is great and fear takes hold of us, then if we trust the Lord and His Word, God sends forth His power to accomplish that impossible thing in us.  The sleep that's mentioned of is the atmosphere wherein the darkness becomes real, that is, when we're being tried, an atmosphere is present which we think is created by us, but actually by God whereby the terrifying darkness comes; for were Abraham not asleep, would he be frightened of any darkness?  Or if that atmosphere weren't present, e.g. loss of a job, would the situation have looked so grim? When we're under trail, let us keep in mind that God will never allow us a trial (or temptation if you like) which is too hard for us to bear and with every trial He gives us Grace so we can be uplifted and not be bent with it (1 Cor. 10:13). 

Through our Scripture today, I want to re-assure you that in the night of bitter trial when the whole of it is simply horrifying, don't worry but hold His Word in your heart and sure enough you'll see that God's hand is raised in your favor.  Remember, Jesus too had a harrowingly dark  time in the Garden of Gethsemane, but eventually, it meant an awesomely joyous future for mankind.  Just trust the Lord in your darkness and you will walk away unscathed.