THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
Scripture: Genesis 20:1-3, 7

Genesis 20:1-3 says, “And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”” In this passage, Abraham again told an untruth, that Sarah was his sister. So Abimilech took Sarah and God gave Abimelech a revelation that he was a dead man because the woman he had taken was a man’s wife. God intervened for Abraham a second time for the same issue. And verse 7 is even stronger. It says, “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” This is judgment in action. By praying, Abraham could save Abimelech. Is not the opposite true? Abraham was keeping the way of the Lord. He was doing righteousness and probably praying deliverance for Sarah! Did he need help? Yes. Did he get everything exactly right? No. But God was there to make up the difference. Just as He is for us today. God is here to make up the difference.