Right From The Heart 1-Minute DevotionsSample

Long-Term Consequences of Sin

I'm haunted by the biblical story of Sarah and Abraham. God promised them a child to build a great nation. They were past the normal childbearing years, so Sarah had an idea. It was custom in those days that if the husband had a child by his wife's maid, the child could legally be his wife's child. So, Sarah said to Abraham, "Sleep with my maid." He was glad to oblige.

The Egyptian maid had a child. Sarah became insanely jealous and eventually ran the maid and her son off. His name was Ishmael, from which many Arabic people are descendants. Later, God gave Sarah and Abraham a child. He was named Isaac, and from him would come Israel and the Jewish people.

Because Sarah did not trust God's promise, it led to a sibling rivalry between Ishmael and Isaac -- rivalry and animosity that exist to this day in the Middle East between Arabs and Jews.

Sin brings long-term consequences. Let's make it easier on ourselves and others. Let's do things God's way through faith.