Wednesday
Read: Genesis 20; Proverbs 14:1
SOAP: Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman has built her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.
Devotion:
As the text returns focus to Abraham we find him in a familiar situation. Abraham again misled and deceived a king about his relationship to Sarah to preserve his own life. And again, God intervened and is the hero of the story, preserving the promise He made to Abraham.
Though it is frustrating to watch Abraham make the same mistake a second time, again jeopardizing Sarah’s life, his marriage, and the fulfillment of the promise, we often find ourselves repeating the same mistakes as well. Even though he had seen God miraculously come through to rescue Sarah, save his life, and give them abundant resources, Abraham acted out of fear. His fear led him to foolish behavior, behavior that showed a lack of faith in God. Abraham, again, doubted the Lord’s protection of him and he risked the promise.
But Abraham is not the hero of this story: God is. Once again, God intervened. He saved Sarah, warned Abimelech, and restored Abraham. He showed how He alone has power over life and death. He caused infertility to strike of all the women in Abimelech’s household, and then He healed them (This indicates Sarah was likely in Abimelech’s court for several months, enough time to recognize that no one had been able to conceive since her arrival).
God showed His power and control over the creation of life to a couple who had been promised a son. If God could keep others from conceiving, perhaps He could indeed do what He promised and allow Sarah to conceive. While Abraham is not reprimanded by God for his actions in this story, we see how his lack of faith jeopardized the promise. When our faith is in God alone, not our own ability to save and protect ourselves, we find life and freedom. God continued to intervene in Abraham’s story and He continues to intervene in ours, even when our faith waivers.
Prayer:
Lord God, I want to have great faith. Help me to walk in wisdom, turning to You for what I need. I long to build my life and my faith, not destroy them by my own actions. I praise You for continuing to save me again and again, even when I fail. Amen.