A humbled and open heart is fertile soil for God’s seeds of wisdom. Establishing deeper roots requires analyzing God’s word to discover truths, values, and lessons for application to our lives. Periodically, a scripture or passage calls for further exploration, like Genesis 20:9-17.
9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”
11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ 12 And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. 13 When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”
14 Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.
Genesis 20:9-17 NLT
Our Deeper Roots passage in Genesis shows us that God can protect purpose despite our fears and mistakes. Our scripture selection picks up after Abraham has been deceptive with King Abimelech about Sarah being his sister. This causes Abimelech to take Sarah as one of his wives. The Lord visits Abimelech in a dream and tells him to return Sarah to her husband before God punishes him. Abimelech calls for Abraham and questions why he would do such a deceptive thing. Abraham answered that he was afraid that the men would kill him in order to steal his wife, Sarah. That confession prompted King Abimelech to return Sarah and give Abraham silver, servants, and land with animals. After his gifting, Abraham intercedes to God on behalf of Abimelech and God listens.
Fear of death caused Abraham to not walk in the authority and promise that God had given him. Abraham’s old fears caused him to repeat old patterns of deception (Genesis 12:10-20). God intervened and preserved the purity of Sarah, the sanctity of Sarah and Abraham’s marriage, and the promise over the offspring of Abraham.
Despite our mistakes, God’s purpose prevails. This is a word for those who may feel like the promise that the Lord gave you is no longer relevant because of your lack of obedience AND for those who are dealing with recurrent fears that God has already proven HE can solve. It is best to move in obedience. And yet, our Heavenly Father can redeem and restore even when we initially yielded to fear.
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