Spiritual Maturity through Death of Visions (Genesis 12 - 22)

Spiritual Maturity through Death of Visions (Genesis 12 - 22)

Collin Leong. 10 April 2015

 
Scripture Reference: Genesis 12-22

Synopsis

What made Abraham one of the most highly regarded men by 3 major faiths? Was it because he was the perfect model of a patriarch and spiritual leader?  By casual reading of Genesis 11-25, many flaws of Abraham come to light without having to try very hard. The scriptures never mask the failures of any priests, prophets, or princes no matter how horrible their failures may be. Think of Noah, Jacob, Jonah, David, Solomon, Peter or Paul.  

The trials, failures and victories of the saints reveal the methods he deals with those He loves. And he deals with them in this manner because he is interested in shaping their character, not just for them to achieve their God-given mission or calling. Similarly, God's chief purpose for our lives is to help us become spiritually mature. Col 1:28 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” 

Spiritual Maturity can be defined as “the ability to understand and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and knowing how to respond to any situation with Christ-like attitudes”  (Adapted from Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP)) And the main method God uses to shape our character to achieve spiritual maturity is through trials.

We will all go through trials. But there will be one or more times in your life that the trial is so perplexing you can't believe it came from God. How can God bring about a situation that contradicts what you thought was His blessings and promises for your life? All your dreams and hopes come crashing down and you are totally confused what God is trying to do, and he just remains silent. You only have your faith to cling to, and that might be slipping away too. 

Source: The critical journey; Stages in the Life of Faith; Hasberg & Guelich

Ref: Dark Night of the Soul; St John of the Cross

Bill Gothard, the founder of IBLP, calls this experience the “death of a vision”.  It has also been called "the wall" or "the dark night of the soul" by other authors. Every great man and woman of God have had a “death of vision”, even if not documented in the Bible. Adam and Eve was commanded to populate the earth, but soon lost one out of their two sons; God rescued Moses as a baby to save the Israelites, but he became a fugitive as a murderer; Joseph was given dreams of glory, but was sold as a slave; Job was blessed with family and riches, and then lost everything; Esther was made queen, but faced genocide; David was promised to be king, but hunted by Saul; Peter was supposed to build the church, but denied Christ three times; we can go on and on.

Because just like these great men and women, going through the death of vision bring renewed and a more meaningful life and the attainment of God’s divine plan. God is not just interested of hastily bringing His plans to fruition, for he could have just snapped his fingers if he had wanted to. He is interested in taking time to tune and perfect his instruments (us), as we let ourselves be used by Him in the great orchestra of divine redemption of mankind. That is what death of visions are about.

It is important to recognize that these experiences are in fact from God, when it comes, so that we don't fight it or take things into our own hands. More importantly, we need to know how to go through it. In our group study, we followed the many trials of Abraham to see how he dealt with his "walls" between the time he was called out of his homeland into Canaan, until the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise, the gift of a son from whom a great nation shall emerge. (See details of the study at the bottom).

Applications:

Having understood what is “Death of Vision” or simply a “Wall”, have you experienced one or more in your life? Share the most recent one:

• What was the “vision” you were hoping to achieve?
• What was the “wall” that came your way?
• Why did God bring that “death of vision”, and what character was God trying to develop through it?
• What happened in the end? Did you passed through the wall successfully or not? How long did it take? Either way, lessons can be learned?
• Now that you are aware that this is God’s way in dealing with us, do you think you’ll be better prepared in the future to respond correctly to the next “Wall”?

Details of the Study:

God gave Abraham a few big promises: that he will have a son though Sarah was barren, and that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan. Abraham waited for 25 years before even seeing the possibility of what God had promised. In between he faced many trials. Jewish scholars have typically listed 10 major trials of Abraham but for our purpose we will consider seven, and out of the seven, we identify three that qualify as "death of visions" for they directly threaten the promise or vision that God had given Abraham.  Briefly, the seven trials are as follows:

#1, Wall: Canaan already occupied by pagans

Sacrifice: Giving up instant gratification of what we believe we deserve (Yielding of Rights)

Character Development: Perseverance, Sanctification

Promise Gained:  Inheritance of the Land, but by his offspring. 

Notes:

• Abraham built an altar to claim the promise. Jacob later came back to the same place, a turning point for him.

• Built an altar at Bethel (“house of God”)

• An Altar “place of slaughter”.  Marks an encounter, forgiveness, worship, convenant/promise, intercession.

Better a patient person than a warrior, 
one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Prov 16:32; NIV)

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, 
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov 16:32; ESV)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, 
be constant in prayer. 
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rom 12:12, 18-19)

#2, Trial: Famine in the Land

Sacrifice: Willing to withstand inconvenience discomfort or even insecurity in doing God’s will

Character Development: Contentment, Trust, Reliance. Being “Centered in Christ”. 

Promise Gained:  (none – did not pass test)

Notes:

• Went from Bethel to Negeb (“parched land”)
• Went “down” to Egypt – symbol for “the world”. Worldly comfort and pleasure.
• No mention of conversation with God.•Abraham got rich.  Hagar was a gift from Pharoah
• Sent out of Egypt – back into famine?

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned 
to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; 
in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, 
both of having abundance and suffering need. 
(Phil 4:11-12)

#3, Trial: Conflict with Lot  (Gen 13:7)

Sacrifice: Giving deference to others, even if we have higher authority or deserve higher priority

Character Development: Brotherly kindness

Promise Gained:  “I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth”

Notes:

• Went back to Bethel and “called upon the name of God”•Abraham is the older, should have been given priority

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil 2:3-4)

#4, Trial: Temptation of Wealth and Power (Gen 14:22)

Sacrifice: Giving up gains that comes from unequally yoked partnership; willing to wait for God to reward our good works

Character Development:  Self-control; integrity

Promise Gained:  “your reward shall be very great.” (Gen 15:1)

Notes:

• God also re-assured him of offspring and legacy through convenant of blood.  To Abraham, this is more important that wealth and power.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, 
being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 
"I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,“  (Heb 13:5)

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, 
as for the Lord rather than for men, 
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. 
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Col 3:23-24)

#5, Wall: Barren Wife (Gen 16)

Sacrifice: Accepting from the Lord both good and bad circumstances. To give up control to God.

Character Development:  Trust; Humility; Self-control

Promise Gained:  (none – did not pass test)

Notes:

• Abraham took things into his own hands, have Ishmael through Hagar, an Eqyptian maid possibly a gift from Pharoah
• Caused enmity between Sarah and Hagar, and between descendants of Ismael and Isaac until today.
• Abraham did not hear from God until 13 years later, to announce the fulfilment of the covenant.  God is faithful even when we are not!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, 
to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

"Be still, and know that I am God; (Psalm 46:10)  

#6, Trial: Threat of Persecution (Gen 20)

Sacrifice: Willing to tell the truth even if it brings disadvantage to us.

Character Development:  Courage, Virtue

Promise Gained:  (none – did not pass test)

Notes:

• Went down to Negeb – again. Gerar, between Kadesh and Shur•Told half-lie about Hagar being his sister. (She is half-sister)•Abraham’s spiritual gift is mercy; But he has a bad side effect – extreme avoidance of conflict and confrontation. He uses his cunning to protect himself (from Abimelech & Pharoah). Grandson Jacob inherited this trait
• Brought trouble on Abilmelech’s people; put Sarah in danger.

“so that we confidently say, 
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. 
WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"… (Heb 13:6)

#7, Wall: Sacrifice of Isaac (Gen 22)

Sacrifice: Willing to give up everything for love of God; letting go, yielding everything. Die to self.

Character Development:  Love; brokeness

Promise Gained:  “in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”

Notes:

• Because Abraham obeyed, we have a picture of the substitutionary atonement of Christ.
• You did not spare your “only son”.
• Contrast with Moses’ disobedience in striking the rock

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, 
but Christ lives in me. 
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, 
who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20) 

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things 
and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Phil 3:8)