WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:10). Saving his own skin Abraham has followed God out of his homeland on an epic journey of faith. He has entered into a covenant with him, and is awaiting a son in fulfilment of his promise. He has seen God strike the Egyptians with disease as a result of the Pharaoh’s interest in Sarah, and he has seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. And yet, he still tells whopping, disastrous lies to save his own skin – although, as he would say, it wasn’t totally untrue: she was his half-sister! God steps in Once again, God ensures Sarah’s purity (v 4) and the plan for her to bear the child who will found the people of Israel is still in place. God takes holiness seriously. It was vital that the marriage from which his people would come was pure, so he stepped in to keep it that way. The same God I find this story incredibly reassuring. Abraham’s very human response to fear had the potential to derail the basis of the covenant. But God perseveres with him and sorts out the situation. We might feel that we have messed up so badly that God will move on and use someone else instead, but we can take comfort from his faithfulness to Abraham. He is the same God yesterday, today and for ever. Respond: Think about the times when you have seen God working with you to redeem circumstances in which you were disobedient. Thank him for his grace and kindness. http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-04-16