What have you done?

Sometimes things happen in life and you want to ask this questions, "what where you thinking?" This is the questions that Abimelech asks Abraham.

Abimelech first instructions his servants in all that God had spoken to him. Then he begins a conversation with Abraham and challenges him with concerns as to the situation that has resulted because of Abraham's actions.

Are you willing to ask those around you "what have you done to us?" Do you see how the actions of others impact your life?

Now ask yourself this question. How are my actions impacting those around me? If they were bold enough would they come to me and ask, "what were you thinking?"

Gen 20:8-10
8 So Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done." 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?"NASU

Not Fair?

Raising three kids we would often here "that is not fair". Our reply to that statement is "life is not always fair". Just because we see something as not "being fair" to ourselves we still are required to do the right thing anyway.

God told Abimelech that he would be put to death because he had taken Abraham wife. He reply was how could I know, since he said, she is my sister I am really blameless. He asked God would you punish someone who is blameless.

God tells Abimelech that he is aware of all that has happen and that He has kept Abimelech from sinning so he better go and restore Sarah back to Abraham and do the right thing, following God's command and not to worry about if he was blameless.

Do you feel you are in a situation where you are being treated unfairly? God's instruction to you (and me) is to do the right thing anyway, no matter what has happened to you.

Gen 20:4-7 4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless? 5 "Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this." 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 "Now therefore, restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." NASU

White Lie?

Have you ever thought it is better to lie than get in trouble for the telling the truth? Sadly, I had to learn the hard way that I would have been better telling someone the truth rather than thinking that a "small lie" would be my best options.

Abraham thought it best to lie about being married to Sarah. Is half truth, resulted in his wife being taken and also announcement that God would take Abimelech's life. Not only did Abraham's lie impact is wife but also Abimelech, king of Gerar.

Gen 20:1-3 Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar. 2 Abraham said of Sarah his wife, " She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married."NASU

There is no such thing as a small white lie. All lies open the door to more trouble.

Put a guard over your month and be truthful.

The Scars of Life

Sometimes in our youth we get an injury that produces a scar. Those scars will be there all our lives. In fact, sometimes a scar "grows" right along with our body. That tiny scar from our youth now seems extremely large.

Lot allow himself to be involved with his daughter. This sin produced a scar and although it seems like it was such a small thing it turns into a large problem later for the children of Israel.

One of the dangers was that Lot's daughter reasoned away this sin and being necessary. They concluded it was necessary for the survival of the family line.

Are you willing to reason away sin in your life? Do you understand that sin produces scars, even though it can be forgiven?

Today, consider "Do I want a permanent scar in my life?"

Gen 19:36-38 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son, and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 As for the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day. NASU

Waiting and Watching

When each of our children started driving I can remember clearly the first time they drove somewhere on their own. I trusted them to be safe but we keep watching from them to come down the road. When traffic was heavy or they stayed a little later than planned the waiting part was hard because I had no idea what was happening. (these are the days before cell phones).

When we are watching and waiting for others the burdens on our hearts is heavy. Abraham had pleaded with God to spare Sodom where Lot was living but he did not know what took place. Was Lot safe, did he and his family escape, what choices were made, did God intervene? All of these thought must have gone through his mind.

The source of my confort when I was worried about my children was the fact that I knew that God cared for them better than I ever could because He could watch over them every moment of every day.

Gen 19:27-29 27 Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the Lord; 28 and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. 29 Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived. NAS

We can watch, we can wait and we can pray but God is the one who can intervene just as He did for Lot.

Today put those we care about into the hands of God. Find strength by trusting Him to watch and care for them.

Don't Look Back

If a lion was chasing you as you run away you would not think about running toward the lion and risk being devoured. So why when evil is coming to destroy our lives do we want to wait and see what will happen? We think that he really want be that bad. If someone tries and warns us we think they are simply exaggerating.

There is a line in the movie "Forrest Gump" where his friend calls out to him saying, "Run Forrest, run"....and away he runs never looking back, never wanting to be caught by the danger.

Run my friend, Run!!! Don't look back at the evil that is chasing you.

Gen 19:16-23 17 When they had brought them outside, one said, " Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away." 18 But Lot said to them, "Oh no, my lords! 19 "Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; 20 now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved." 21 He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken. 22 "Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the town was called Zoar. NASU