January 19

‘…An horror of great darkness fell upon him.’ Genesis 15:12

                Genesis 15:12 refers to a ‘great darkness’ as a representation of God’s silence in the life of Abraham for 13 years. This silence was not a punishment for any wrong, but rather a time in which God gave Abraham the opportunity to exhaust his self dependence. Abraham could not have recognized his inequity if God had not allowed him to rely on his own devices only.

                There are times in our lives when God seems to be silent as well. This is another example of God’s desire for us to choose Him. Just as Abraham could not achieve humility before God until he exhausted his own resources, so too are we led to either make do with our own resources or to recognize our destitution and choose to rely on God.

                Just because God is silent in our lives does not mean that this is a time in which there is no benefit in being still and listening. Abraham used this period to develop a discipline to listen. We can do the same thing. God will not be silent in our lives forever and it is important that we continue to listen for when we are ready to be used by Him.

                Finally, I think that it is important to note that the tenure of these silences are largely within our power to control. Abraham’s period of silence lasted for thirteen years because it took him that long to realize that he was destitute before God. In my case, I have found these periodic silences to be directly associated with periods during which my own humility is diminished. I would even argue, without justifiable basis, that these periods of silence are directly in negative correlation with periods of arrogance.

                This being said, is God looking for an entire creation that is so meek that they have no self esteem at all? Such a simplification would be unfair to ourselves. From the Grace of God is derived unselfish confidence. With God’s grace we know that we are doing good works and serving Him well. The difference between confidence through Grace and arrogance occur only when we forget from where our confidence comes and attribute our goodness to our own devices instead of His mercy.