Abraham Should Have Quit When He Was Ahead

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” - Genesis 12:10-13

Abraham was such an daring risk-taker, such a remarkable believer, and so courageous. He took God at his word, uprooted his family, and travelled all the way across the known world. 

But maybe he should have quit while he was ahead.

What comes next is not just an embarrassing mistake. He doesn't accidentally pawn off his wife to another man. He blows it. He violates her trust (and her safety and her purity). He jeopardizes God's plan to give him offspring. And he does it all in such a shamelessly self-serving way! For Abraham, it's all about him.

We could sit here and criticize him no end... until we look in the mirror. How often do we only look out for ourselves? How many times do we put ourselves above our family members and friends? How many times do we get in the way of God's plan to bless others? 

The key here is not even about Abraham or us. It's that in the next paragraph it goes on to mention how God was still at work, orchestrating Sara's safe return to Abraham - and even blessing Abraham. This is the God we know and love - the God who meets us with mercy when we deserve justice, and then who piles some grace on top of that. Take some time to worship him today.