10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”
[Genesis 12:10-13]
One would think that by now, Abraham would know God to the extent that he wouldn’t fear anything anymore. However, we see here that when it’s all been said and done, we’re all human after all.
That’s why it’s very important to ascribe all our achievements to God. By grace should punctuate our statements when we’re recounting our successes- and it must come from the depths of our hearts and not just idle statements, devoid of genuine gratitude to God.
On two occasions, Abraham told a blatant lie that Sarah was his sister. Sarah was indeed his half-sister. However, Abraham had gone past that stage long ago. Sarah had become his wife. Abraham only chose that convenient path as an adaptation strategy whenever danger was imminent.
Well, Abraham isn’t alone. Elijah of all Prophets also asked God to take away his life. This was right after he had called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel to consume the sacrifice, the wood, water, stone, dust- everything. But when Jezebel threatened him, he began to quake. Bible says, ”And he [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he begged for his life, that he might die. And he said, It is enough. O Lord, take away my life. For I am no better than my fathers”. (1 Kings19:4).
Several other examples exist in the Bible. Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8&9, ES).
May we be sober when things go our way and we feel like super humans. In the same vein, may we accept our human frailties when we falter. We’ll find refreshment at Throne of Grace. God is faithful. Amen
