Today’s Reading: Genesis 20, Psalm 15 & 43

Who may worship you in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever. – Psalm 15:1-5

In this next chapter of Genesis, we find Abraham repeating a mistake he made in chapter 12 when he and Sarah entered Egypt. Instead of introducing Sarah as his wife, he introduced her as his sister — again. He did this out of fear for his own life. His lack of trust that God would protect them in this new home of Gerar caused him to put his beautiful wife in danger in order to spare himself — again.

Because of the reputation of King Abimelek and the people of Gerar, Abraham expected the worst when he arrived in their country as a foreigner. He assumed that the king would find Sarah so beautiful that he would be willing to kill Abraham in order to have her for himself. Abraham expected King Abimelek to sin against him, but his response in fact caused him to sin against the king. He deceived the king with a half-truth instead of choosing integrity in the midst of a risky situation.

WHEN WE EXPECT THE WORST FROM UNBELIEVERS, WE SIN AGAINST THEM BEFORE THEY SIN AGAINST US. PERHAPS THIS IS WHY THE WORLD SEES THE CHURCH AS UNLOVING AND JUDGMENTAL.

Who suffered when Abraham chose to be less than honest? First of all, Sarah did. The king found Sarah to be beautiful, just like Abraham predicted. Because he was led to believe she was available, the king brought Sarah to his palace. Imagine how Sarah felt as she was most likely placed in the king’s haram to prepare her for her first encounter with the king. She needed Abraham to be her protector and instead he was the one placing her in harm’s way.

Abraham’s sin of dishonesty also placed King Abimelek and his whole kingdom in a dangerous situation. He set them up to sin. Scripture says they were terrified when they realized that Sarah was a married woman; they were also plagued with infertility. The king’s response to Abraham says it all:

“What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done. Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” – Genesis 20:9b-10

How often do we expect the worst from others? In what ways are we setting others up to fail when we continually assume they will make bad decisions? How often have other people needed to point out our judgmental attitudes or the inconsistencies in our faith? Abraham could have been a powerful witness of what it looks like to be a follower of Jehovah, but was instead seen as selfish and cruel. Where was Abraham’s faith?

NOT ONLY WAS ABRAHAM EXPECTING THE WORST FROM UNBELIEVERS, HE WAS EXPECTING THE LEAST FROM HIS HOLY GOD. INSTEAD OF TRUSTING GOD, ABRAHAM MANIPULATED HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.

God had promised protection to Abraham and had clearly painted a picture of the blessings he planned to bestow on him — descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the beach. Instead of trusting in the God who loves to give good gifts to His children, Abraham tried to orchestrate his circumstances in order to provide his own protection. Instead of asking God for wisdom and discernment, Abraham chose deception and manipulation.

Lord, teach us how to trust in you in all situations. Help us to be a light to those around us as we extend both grace and truth to them. May our actions be a powerful witness to what you are capable of instead of being an indicator of our greatest fears. May we place our faith solely in you today. Thank you for being a generous God who watches over us and forgives us. Give us eyes to see others as you see them today. Lord, strengthen our faith so that we choose hope in you over fear of the world. Amen.

Send out your light and your truth;
let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you live.
There I will go to the altar of God,
to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
O God, my God!
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God! – Psalm 43:3-5