God was continuously revealing to Abraham that walking by the flesh must be rooted out of the decision-making process in a Child of God’s life. This is also a lesson for all believers to take heed unto.

The Apostle Paul commanded the believers in Corinth to “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…” (2 Corinthians 13:5a-b).

It is impossible to please Christ when you begin your Christian journey on a lie of deception as Abraham did:

“And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.” (Genesis 20:13)

One might object and say, Abraham told half of the truth. What is wrong with that?

The problem with a half-truth is that it is a lie. A half-truth is a deception. A lie is never blessed by God, for one lie leads to another. Plus, the truth makes one free – a lie does not.

Truth’s Father is God:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

A lie’s father is the devil:

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Not only is deception a lie – but also, many times a lie may cause grave danger to the receiver, as happened to Abimelech, king of Gerar, in Genesis 20:

“But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.” (Genesis 20:3)

“But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?” (Genesis 20:4)

“Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.” (Genesis 20:9)

Not only did this affect the king, but God closed up the womb of every woman in Gerar. A lie always affects others.

Also, another result would be seen later on, in Isaac’s life; for he followed his daddy’s deception (Genesis 26:1-35). He used the same lie to protect Rebekah. Isaac’s lie also endangered the receiver of the lie (Genesis 26:10).

Then comes another objection, God blessed Abraham and Isaac, even in the face of their lies; so what is the point in this devotion?

1) God had a great purpose for Abraham and Isaac in the land of the Philistines. God blessed both men in a great way materially. But God’s blessing is not based on lies – but upon His own Purpose. Only God knows what He was doing to Abimelech and his people, as well as to Abraham and Isaac.

2) Therefore, it proves that God’s Purpose is greater than His People’s sin. God’s Purpose supersedes man’s depravity and sin. Unless revealed to man by God, only God knows all His own Purposes.

3) God hates sin; and He judged sin in Christ on the Cross. Therefore, God does not overlook any sin; not even Abraham’s and Isaac’s.

4) However, God is Merciful. Hallelujah! God’s Mercy endureth forever. But because God is merciful, it does not mean that He overlooks sin. Sin always brings a harvest. And yet, God is ever preserving His Sheep. See Genesis 20:2-7, especially verse 7:

“Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.” (Genesis 20:7)

5) Abraham, and even Sarah, learned a valuable lesson:

“Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.” (Genesis 20:5)

“And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.” (Genesis 20:16)

Note the words, “thus she was reproved.” It is sad when the children of the flesh have to reprove God’s Children of the Promise.

Abraham and Sarah leaned a valuable lesson, in that it is God that Protects His Sheep; it is not their own schemes. (See Psalms 121:1-6; Hebrews 13:5.) The plans of the flesh never bring victory, but bring defeat.

“But God” – yes, but God and God’s Mercy!

Praise God, even in our mistakes by walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit; God has mercy, and teaches us a better way. It is God that Protects and Provides for His Children of Promise. It is not man’s own plans and schemes.

Only God can come to a man in a dream or a vision and speak to him, as God did Abimelech on Sarah’s behalf. Only God could close up all wombs of the child-bearing women, as He did to the women in Gerar. Only God has all Power to give life and take life. Only God has all Power in heaven and on earth.

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)