Pathways Press.com

This devotional is from the pray.com team.

Have you ever entered a situation assuming the worst in people? Abraham did this several times. Twice, he journeyed south to another land, and twice, he encountered kings who he assumed would ruthlessly kill him to steal his wife. In order to preserve himself, Abraham lied and told these kings that Sarah was his sister. As a result, Sarah was taken, and Abraham was spared. Our lies often affect those we love most. Abraham’s lies saved him but put his wife in dangerous situations. Furthermore, it turned out that these kings weren’t such terrible guys. When God revealed to them that Sarah was Abraham’s wife, both kings were outraged. Apparently, they wouldn’t have taken Sarah if they knew she was a married woman. This is a classic example of a self-fulfilling prophecy born from lies and fear. Abraham assumed the worst and lied to save himself. As it turns out, those lies are what ended up costing him the most. Truth is the only way to face the world. When we face uncertainty and fear with lies and deception, we create more chaos. We must be willing to accept that living truthfully, even when uncomfortable, is the only way to engage with the world.

Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. [Genesis 20:1]