Abraham continues to move about the land of Canaan looking for where he will ultimately settle.  Once again he fails to trust in God’s protection and tells the king of the land that Sarah is his sister.  She is taken away and the following account is what happens after God tells Abimelek that he will be killed for taking a married woman. 

8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” 10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” 11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” 14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18 for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

God is consistently looking out for Abraham even when he doesn’t do the right thing.  That’s the thing about sin.  It never changes God.  God’s grace is bigger than our sin.  The problem with sin is that it separates us from God on our end.  We feel farther from God and disconnected.  The truth is that He never leaves us.  God’s covenant with Abraham is not effected by Abraham’s sin.  God demonstrated that when he fulfilled both sides of the covenant that he made with Abraham in Genesis 17.  God longs for our obedience not because it effects how He views us.  He longs for it because it is a demonstration of our love for Him.  Today show your love for Him by your obedient heart.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave