Right From The Heart 1-Minute DevotionsSample

One Man's Sin: Long-Term Consequences

Very often, we rationalize sin by thinking nobody will be hurt...it's no big deal. But sin has a way of having lasting consequences. Do you know the origin of the Middle East conflict? It goes back to the sin of one man, Abraham, the father of three faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

God promised to bless Abraham and his wife, Sarah, with a son He would use to build a great nation. Because they were very old, Sarah suggested to Abraham that he sleep with her younger maidservant, and have their child through her. This was a legally acceptable solution, but it wasn't in God's will. The servant gave birth to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Abraham's wife became resentful, and the maidservant and Ishmael fled to the desert.

But God eventually gave Abraham and Sarah the son He promised--Isaac. From Isaac, came the Jews and Israel; from Ishmael came the Arabs. The descendants of these two sons of Abraham have been in conflict ever since. One man's sin--long-term consequences. So let's trust God and do right.