CONSEQUENCES
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Opening Prayer
Lord God, please challenge me as I read about Abraham’s succumbing to temptation and deceitfulness.
Read GENESIS 20
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Genesis
Genesis 20
1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar,
2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?
5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.
7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.”
8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”
11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’
12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”‘”
14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”
16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again,
18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
Reflect
Have there been times when God has had to teach you something more than once so that you learn it and apply it?I’m ashamed to say that, as a child, I cut my hair and claimed a school friend had done it. My mother told the headteacher, who spoke to the girl, who denied it. My mother’s response was, ‘My daughter doesn’t tell lies!’ I was mortified, feeling deeply ashamed as I realized the consequences of what I had done.
Leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, where he had witnessed God’s judgment and awesome power (Genesis 19:28), it’s surprising that Abraham felt he had to mislead Abimelek about his wife. In his human frailty, he hatched a contingency plan to ensure his and Sarah’s safety. Having tried this same trick in Egypt (Genesis 12:11—13), it seems he hadn’t learned his lesson. Why could he not trust God? Inevitably, his faithless scheme backfired. God intervened (vv. 3—7) and responded to Abraham’s prayer, showing mercy to Abimelek and his family (v. 17).
Of course, we can be just as weak and vulnerable—perhaps, like Abraham, we are guilty of deception sometimes. Are we economical with the truth so that what we say is interpreted in a particular way? Ask God to help you speak with integrity and honesty at all times. It’s not always easy, but it’s hugely important.
Through all this, God’s faithfulness and sovereignty are paramount. We can take God at his word and let his will be done!
Apply
Take a personal inventory—are there times when you have been deceptive, when you flat out have lied or stretched the truth?
Closing prayer
Thank you, Father, for your mercy when I come to you with my failure to trust you and failure to act honestly. When I am tempted to go my own way, please help me to do what is right, to honor you, and act with integrity.
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