When Fear Leads Us Astray
Sometimes fear just gets the best of us. We all know what we should do, but our nervousness and uncertainties take over. We try to protect ourselves, and sometimes things end up getting messy.
That’s exactly what happened to Abraham…
Now, if you know anything about Abraham, you probably know he’s called the “father of our faith.” But even Abraham had shaky moments – big ones!
Here’s the story: Abram (later called Abraham) and his wife, Sarai (who is later called Sarah), leave their home and move to Egypt for food. Abram is scared because his wife Sarai is so beautiful. He tells her, “You’re so beautiful. If people here find out you’re my wife, they’ll kill me to take you. Let’s just say you’re my sister, okay?”
Well, it worked, sort of… The Egyptians did notice Sarai’s beauty, and Pharaoh ended up taking her into his palace. But God was watching, and the scriptures tell us that God, “inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household“. Soon, Pharaoh figured out the truth and sent Sarai and Abram away.
You’d think that Abraham would have learned his lesson, but no. Later in Genesis 20, he yet again told a powerful king that Sarah was his sister! The same fear, the same lie, and the same God coming to the rescue.
Fear drove Abraham to lie – twice! And the worst part is that in order to keep himself safe, he put his wife at risk.
Read the full stories in Genesis 12 and Genesis 20.
The Scripture
“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 12:13 (NIV)
Breakdown of Abraham’s Failure
Instead of trusting God’s promise to protect and bless him, Abraham took matters into his own hands, twice! He shifted the risk onto Sarah, hoping to save himself – his gut reaction was fear, not trust. And since it happened not just once but twice, we see that sometimes old fears don’t just vanish overnight. Sometimes, we trip over the same mistake again, even years later.
Abraham’s choices didn’t just affect him, either. His lies put Sarah in some really tough situations, which could have been really dangerous. They also disrupted the lives of the kings who, not knowing the truth, took her into their households. At one point, Abraham’s actions almost threw a wrench into God’s big rescue plan for the whole world!
What Can We Learn from Abraham?
Reflection Questions
Affirmation
God’s faithfulness doesn’t depend on my performance. Even when I am flawed and afraid, He keeps His promises.
Prayer for the Day
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for not expecting perfection from me. Forgive me for the times I trust my own plans more than I trust You. When I am tempted to hide or take shortcuts, remind me of Your faithfulness – how You protect, forgive, and keep Your promises no matter how many times I stumble. Help me to live honestly and courageously, knowing Your love covers every flaw. Use my story to encourage others who are struggling with fear or regret. Thank You for never giving up on me. I put my confidence in Your unchanging grace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
