1-2 Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She's my sister."
2-3 So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, "You're as good as dead—that woman you took, she's a married woman." (The Message)
The Old Testament is an interesting read for sure! Abraham is not the saint that we picture in our minds when it comes to religious people who serve God. But Abraham is in process just like we all are, sometimes he gets it right and sometimes he doesn't. Here in this story Abraham is willing to put his wife Sarah at risk to protect his own life and what it does is not just put Sarah at risk but also the king of Gerar and his whole family. God intervenes and everything works out alright, this time. But God doesn't always intervene in our lives or the lives of those whose stories are told in the Bible. Our actions have consequences for ourselves, our families, and even those we do not know.
On first glance it might seem that this story doesn't have much to do with us today. But maybe Abraham's action is more like us than we care to admit. Have you ever stretched the truth just a bit to make yourself look better in someone else's eyes? Have you ever said something about someone else to deflect blame that you might receive for something that you did? When you talk about others do you not always tell the whole truth? Maybe the circumstances are different but the mindset and actions of Abraham continue to be lived out in each of our lives.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- Put yourself in the kings place, what would you think if you had done the same things as he did?
- What do you think Sarah must have thought and felt? Toward Abraham? Toward God?
- Where or When are you most likely to stretch the truth?
- What can you do to keep your words honest and true in all ways and at all times?
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