God's promises

Genesis 12
1The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a] 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”[b]

14When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. 

In verses 1-3, God promises to Abraham (Abram) that He will make a great nation from him. That he will be a blessing to many and his name will be great. 

I am not sure that Abraham envisioned the same thing God did. After all, it took 2000 years for this promise to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ who is from the lineage of Abraham. Would you have thought it would never happen in your life time if God promises you this? I think I would have thought  Abraham would see it in his lifetime, but he didn't. The complete fulfillment of this promise (Jesus Christ) took nearly 2000 years!

Yet God was not quiet during those 2000 years. He protected Abraham and his family  and descendants time and time again. In fact, in verses 14-20 above, Abraham decides to protect himself; he decides he should lie about Sarah (Sarai) and say she is his sister. Then Pharaoh puts her in his Haram! Really? Abraham just went from God telling him He would bless him to Abraham basically prostituting his wife in order to save his own skin!

Maybe there is more to the story. Maybe pharaoh hadn't slept with Sarah yet as they usually have months of beauty treatments before going to Pharaoh (see the book of Esther). I really hope she was still in beauty treatments. Still, what guy would do that to his wife? How could Abraham have forgotten so quickly the promises of God? Did he think he needed to help God with theses promises and take matters in to his own hands? Would you have done what Abraham did if you feared for your life?

Well, God didn't leave Abraham to wallow in his mistakes. He takes care of the mess Abraham got Sarah into. He sends a plague on Pharaoh's household. Pharaoh returns Sarah to Abraham with lots of gifts to get them out of Egypt!

No matter what, God has made us a promise (the promise He made to Abraham)...He sent His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. The Son who was of the lineage of Abraham! So that when we mess up (i.e. when Abraham gives his wife away, when I pass judgment on Abraham, etc.), God has allowed our mistakes to be completely washed away through Jesus Christ. What a great gift! What a great promise! God did not forget His promise. He just did it when the time was right...not when Abraham thought He should do it. 

We all need to learn to be patient and wait on God's timing!

Father, thank you that you are always watching out for us and preparing the road for our future. May we continually seek your guidance so that we follow your perfect path and not our imperfect and sinful path! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.