Abraham was a normal human being like us, and he was also prone to sins. Twice he asked his wife Sarah to tell others that she was his sister and not his wife. This happened in both Egypt with Pharaoh (Genesis 12) and in Gerar with king Abimelech. (Genesis 20). Both times the leaders took beautiful Sarah into their households, wanting to marry her, but God intervened in both instances to protect Sarah and to restore her to Abraham.
Despite the lies, God’s faithfulness and love protected Abraham and Sarah and used the situation for good, because Pharaoh rewarded Abraham with gifts and servants when he commanded them to leave Egypt. Even though Abraham was a great, righteous man of God, he had his weak spots and was also faced with temptations. No matter how much we love Abba Father God, some temptations are difficult to overcome, so we need to place all our trust and confidence in the Lord who gave His very life for us. We need to confess our temptations and sins to Him and ask Him to be victorious in our lives.
Later, when it was evident that Sarah was barren and Abraham seemed impotent, and both were past the age of having children; God continued promising Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son. But when the promise took a long time to be fulfilled; Sarah took matters into her own hands and offered her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abraham to sleep with to have an heir, which was a common practice in those days. Abraham gave in to her wishes and Ishmeal was born. Both Abraham and Sarah showed their impatience and doubt in God’s promises.
It would be wrong to judge Abram and Sarah because we can easily fall into the same trap of impatience and failing to trust Abba Father to the utmost. God kept His promises to Abraham and Sarah and later gave them Isaac, the son of promise. Hebrews 11:11 in the New Testament tells us “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.” God responds to faith even during seeming failure. “…faith is the assurance/substance of what we hope for and the certainty/evidence of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1) We need to trust and believe in our Lord in every situation.
Precious Abba Father, please forgive me when I take matters into my own hands and fail to trust in Your Divine promises and will for my life. Help me to trust You no matter the outcome of what You plan for my life. Help me to first consult You in matters of big and small decisions and to rest in Your loving provisions. Thank You that You promise me Eternal life and a wonderful New Home with Jesus one day when I leave this earth. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Myrtle Turunen