Verse for the Day, 24 March 2014.

Genesis 20:3-7  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."  (4)  Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people?  (5)  Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this."  (6)  Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.  (7)  Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours."

Yet again we witness Abraham and Sarah’s failure to trust God to protect and watch over their lives. Genesis 20 strikes such a familiar note with Genesis 12, that we wonder how it is that they had not learnt to trust God in such situations. Just as we see Abraham and Sarah repeating sinful behaviour and making foolishness decisions, we also see the patience, grace, goodness and protection of God. God graciously warns Abimelech, who believed he was acting in integrity as he was unaware that Abraham had lied to him. God’s warning is gracious but also severe enough to compel Abimelech to take action quickly. God protects Sarah from Abimelech and in doing so ensures that the covenant promise is upheld. Had Abimelech taken Sarah into his harem of wives and Sarah was found a few months later to be pregnant, the thinking would be that Abimelech is the father of this child and not Abraham. Abraham and Sarah in their folly and sinfulness potentially bring God’s plans in jeopardy. However, we quickly learn that God’s plans are not thwarted by our foolishness, God remains sovereign and in control and He will act so as to uphold His will and plan. Abimelech is warned and is kept from Sarah, Sarah’s honour as Abraham’s wife is upheld, sin is exposed and dealt with, God is revealed as good and gracious and His sovereign will and plan remains in place.

We often display the same pattern of life that Abraham and Sarah did, we repeat our previous sins and foolish decisions, despite the fact that God has rescued us and helped us through and out of them in the past. We also fail to consider how our sinful actions and foolish decisions with affect others. Abraham and Sarah’s “innocent” lie affected Abimelech and his entire household. Furthermore our sinful actions and foolish decisions are revealing of how much we actually trust in God, in God’s faithfulness, power and sovereignty. How grateful we should be that God is so patient with us, that He graciously rescues and protects us time and time again, and that the full consequences of our sin are often restrained. We would do well to remember who our God is, so that when we are faced with the choice to trust in God, or trust in ourselves, we are quick to turn to and trust in God.

Trustworthy Father, we thank You that You remain steadfast, true and unchanging, Your faithfulness is so constant. Thank You that You protect us from the full consequences of our sin and rescue us from our own foolishness. May we learn from this passage the joy of trusting in You, rather than the foolishness and pain that results from trusting in ourselves. Amen.