There is a great blessing in being submissive and obedient to our all wise Father. God comforts those that will comfort others. He guides us that we may not lead others astray, but walk in the light as he is in the light. No “blind leading the blind”. He fills us that “our cup” may run over and quench the spiritual thirst of all those around us. I John 3:16 states, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” In Genesis He blesses Abraham and makes him a blessing, but how quickly we can fail as Abraham did. Joseph Parker writes, “As the minister of God, Abram is great and noble, but as the architect of his own fortune, he is cowardly, selfish and false. Abram went out at God’s bidding, cheerfully encountering all the trials of pilgrimage in unknown places, yet he cannot trust God to take care of his wife. How little are the greatest men! If we are never stronger than our weakest point, we should take heed lest in our proud sufficiency the dart strike us in the vulnerable spot.

I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” The devil is an opportunist! Carradine writes, “Peter never dreamed at first that he was capable of denying the Lord, but under circumstances of testing in which we find involved man-fear, self-interest and self-protection, he went down. Saul, the king of Israel, had a new heart and started out humble enough, but temptations to pride and self-will soon came in sufficient number and force to show him he was not really as lowly as one would have supposed when he was found “hiding in the stuff.” David, in spite of his beautiful psalms and leaping before the ark of God, had a weak place in his character and there was most likely to fall. In due time the circumstance came which revealed the vulnerable spot. He got to know himself under the sad power of temptation.”

1 A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
Martin Luther

Romans 8:31, “…If God be for us, who can be against us?”