FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3
Scripture: Genesis 12:14-20

Immediately after establishing the Theocratic Covenant with Abraham, it is tested. And the test came from Abram’s disobedience when he abandoned the trip to Canaan and went south into Egypt because of famine in the land. So when Abraham should have been trusting God to supply on the journey that was God’s idea, he failed to cross into the dimension of understanding covenant. So at the first sign of adversity during the journey, Abram went south and in the process sacrificed Sarai to Pharaoh’s tent. That circumstance brought covenant justice into manifestation. God and Abram were in covenant and despite Abram’s failure in that moment, he was still in covenant. Verses 16,17 contrast the difference between Pharaoh’s treatment of Abraham and God’s treatment of Pharaoh. It says, “He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.” Now while Abraham was getting preferential treatment because of his wife, God’s Hand was judging and destroying Pharaoh and Egypt with great plagues. God’s government was working in Abraham’s behalf, even in his disobedience. But a question rises – how far does covenant go? That question can only be answered based on multiple variables. The season as well as God’s purpose and God’s timing can all impact how far covenant goes. Basically, we cannot count on covenant always working when we are in disobedience. It did in this case, but Abraham was on a learning curve. Nevertheless, it is good to know that once we are in covenant with God, we have a growth period in which in spite of our mistakes covenant still works. That is an example of grace and mercy in action. But by the time we should be mature, are we still counting on mercy?