Origins: The Promise (Genesis 12–25)Sample

By Pastor Jeff Seward

“But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. ‘What have you done to me?’ he said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, “She is my sister,” so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!’ Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.” Genesis 12:17-20 (NIV)

God is jealous for His people. He is jealous and protective of you. He longs to keep you from all evil and harm. When you slip away from Him to do your own thing, you invite pain and trouble into your life. And sadly, that trouble often has a domino effect upon other people.

Because Abram was tempted to lean on his own understanding, he trusted in deception to protect himself. God allowed a pagan king to rebuke His servant Abram. Abram was a poor example to unbelievers and faced embarrassment and reproof. Bible commentator David Guzik says, “If you want to do something wrong you can find some good reasons to do it. If you can’t think of the reasons yourself, the devil is happy to suggest them.”

If Abram had placed his trust in God and told the whole truth to Pharaoh, God would have made sure all his challenges would have been made right. Is the temptation to not tell the truth a habit in your life? If you are a truthful person, you are in a good place. Lying will catch up to the one lying. Telling the truth is not always easy; it can be extremely unpleasant. But Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (NKJV).

If you have not been fully following the Lord and trusting in His wisdom, here are some steps you can take: 

1. Return to your first love. Revelation 2:5 (NKJV) says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works.” Lamentations 3:40 (NKJV) says, “Let us search and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.” We will fail, and sometimes we will fail in big ways. We are not to give up. Humble yourself and admit the sin: first to the Lord, then to others. 
2. Repent and set things in order with the Lord. In the New Testament Book of Romans, chapter 4, there isn’t any mention of Abram’s faults. That’s how the Lord sees you. Psalm 103:12 tells us that He separates our sins as far as the east is from the west. Psalm 71:1-2 (ESV) says, “In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me.”

DIG: Is the temptation to lie and bend the truth a challenge for you?

DISCOVER: Read Proverbs 30:7-8, Ephesians 4:25, and Colossians 3:9 and consider the encouragement.

DO: To get back on track, do you need to clear something up or make it right with someone? Humble yourself before the Lord and tell the truth and everything will work out in His time.