One of the saddest things that Abram did when he was younger and then older when God changed his name to Abraham was telling different people that his wife was his sister. Those two encounters are in Genesis, chapters 12 and 20. In chapter 12, he almost let the Pharaoh of Egypt take his wife in and have sexual relations with her. He did this just like in chapter 20, in order to make sure the people would not kill him and take his wife instead. It reads, “and it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.” (Genesis 12:11-15) Imagine doing this with your wife. God surely would not be happy with you. This is like prostituting our wife, in order to keep ourselves from dying, which is so wrong. The story continues with Sarai, Abram’s wife going into His Pharaoh’s personal house where she was entreated very well.
Sarai saw how rich the Pharaoh was along with all his livestock, menservants, and maidservants, who looked after his needs. However, before Pharaoh could have sexual relations with Sarai, the Lord plagued Pharaoh. Even to the point of him knowing that Abram was lying to him about Sarai being his sister but really his wife. He even rebuked him for doing this and sent him away in all his anger. These passages read, “and he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.” (Genesis 12:16-20) Many times unbelievers also rebuke us for swearing and doing things we normally don’t do. And that is when we should say sorry. Thankfully, God continued to trust in Abraham, although he sinned greatly that day. We can just imagine what could have happened that day and thankfully God stopped it. This would have changed everything we know of in the Bible. Amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will help me stay focused on You, while doing Your will at all times. I do not wish to fall back into previous or even new transgressions. To live for You is my gain in life. I will not let the opposite take hold of me, no matter the amount of riches, or lustful fulfillment I may gain because of the things of this world. I have tasted and tried different things that have led to me dying spiritually. You have been so far from me at those times in my life and it would kill me now to lose Your constant presence again. So Lord, help me to learn from different Christians and also God-fearing men in the Bible, even though many of them have also fallen hard at different times. I admit that I am far from perfect. I fall all the time because of temptation and my conscience becomes seared because of the thoughts that swirl in my mind. This even happened today as I was driving, but thankfully I prayed that You would take those evil thoughts captive, and You did so in that very instant. Thank You for listening to my prayers and helping me overcome the enemy. My flesh was weak and I could have very well continued in those lustful thoughts, but You were able to help me recognize what I was doing was wrong. Only You could help me know how evil those thoughts were. And now I ask for Your mercy to fall upon me, as I did earlier. I am sorry Lord. Lead me from temptation, this day and forever. I trust in You. I love You, God. Amen.
