Seeing the Savior in Genesis 12 and 20

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 When Sin Delays the Promise

Abraham was a faithful servant of Jehova and God loved him for it. He followed God’s ways and waited, with hopeful anticipation, for God to fulfill His promises. However, in Genesis 12 and 20, we find him presenting Sarah as his sister rather than his wife because he fears for his own life. This “little” deception in his life prevents him from receiving the full blessing God intends.

Abraham and Sarah find themselves in Egypt, and Abraham fears that he will be killed because of Sarah’s beauty. So, they make an agreement, out of fear for his life, to present themselves as brother and sister. Sarah is then taken to present herself before Pharaoh. However, before Pharaoh can take her as his own wife, God intervenes in the form of a plague against the Egyptians. When Abraham is called to make an account of it, he reveals the full truth about Sarah being his wife. The Egyptian king restores Sarah to Abraham and they go on their way. It is worthwhile to note, that there does not appear to be any repentance on the part of Abraham.

In Genesis 20, a very similar situation occurs between Abraham, Sarah, and the king of Gerar. God intercedes and prevents disaster. Here, instead of simply leaving after being rebuked, Abraham openly clears Sarah from any wrongdoing and accepts the full responsibility of his error in judgement and lack of trust in God. With this sin confessed and forsaken, God fulfills His promise to Abraham and he is the beneficiary of God’s full blessing. In Genesis 21:1-2, a son is born to Sarah and Abraham!

The application is clear to every believer: we must recognize, confess, and humbly repent from our sins in order to receive God's blessing. We are children of God, and He has promised to save us from pending judgment. This is the Savior's work. Just as God intervened for Abraham—sending plagues to protect him despite his deception—so Jesus Christ continues to intercede for us as we stumble through this life. Yet Abraham's story also teaches us that God's intervention does not remove our responsibility. Abraham had to acknowledge his sin before God could fully bless him with the promised son. So must we.

How many believers, leaders, and churches cannot reach their full potential in Christ because they cannot bring themselves to acknowledge their own fault, however small? We rationalize. We minimize. We say, "It's not completely a lie—just not the complete truth." Like Abraham, we fear what others might do, so we compromise and call it wisdom. Yet unconfessed sin—even "little" deceptions, even small offenses against a brother, sister, child, or coworker—limits the blessing God desires to pour out upon us. To later approach the offended person and seek forgiveness and restoration can be a difficult ordeal, especially for our pride, but it must be done.

Recently my son came and apologized for a minor behavior issue. I accepted his apology, we prayed together, and the relationship was restored. Afterward, he looked me in the eyes and said, "That was really hard to do." How honest. How true. Acknowledgment is hard. Confession costs our pride. Yet it is the pathway to blessing.

Before we gather at the Lord's Table, let us examine ourselves. Is there unconfessed sin? An offense against a brother or sister we have not made right? God receives us as His children regardless, but how much greater the joy and blessing when we come with clear consciences—both before Him and with one another. Like Abraham, who finally received his promised son after dealing with his sin, we too enter into fuller blessing when we acknowledge and forsake what hinders us. 

"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." (1 Corinthians 11:28)

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