Going Up or Down
“And Abraham journeyed from there to the South…” Gen 20:1 NKJV
There are two sides to the journey of life:
1. The Physical, and
2. The Spiritual.
Most often we measured our success by the physical, while ignoring the spiritual. This is because the world only sees the physical, and so we measured our progress by the standard of the world. There is nothing wrong in making a physical progress; God actually wants us to progress physically, materially, financially and spiritually. However, God wants us to keep our minds on the spiritual. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor 4:18
Physical Progress
In Genesis chapter 20, Abraham made physical progress:
1. “Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham…” Gen 20:14 NKJV
2. “And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” Gen 20:15 NKJV
3. Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver…” Gen 20:16 NKJV. The brother referred to here was Abraham.
In Gerah, Abraham got gifts of sheep, oxen, male servants, female servants, large sum of money, and a Resident Visa to dwell anywhere in the country.
Spiritual Decline
However, spiritually speaking, this was a downward journey for Abraham. He plotted with his wife to tell a lie. “Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister…” Gen 20:2. This was the second time Abraham plotted with Sarah, his wife. First time was by having a child through Hagar, the maid. Gen 16. Abraham lied to Abimelech, king of Gerah, because he thought he would be killed because of his wife, Sarah, who was a beautiful woman. In short, Abraham did not trust God to protect him, so he told a half truth. Eventually, the God that Abraham thought will not help him was the same One who fought to have Sarah his wife restored to him, after she had been taken by Abimelech.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 NKJV. Whatever situation we may find ourselves, let us trust God to help and protect us. We should not resort to lies or half truths to get out of difficult situations, no matter the expected gains or punishments. God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.
If you are in a job or a business that you have to tell lies, you are going downward spiritually, even if you are making a lot of money. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Heb 13:5 NIV.
Prayers
1. My Father my God, help me not to compromise my Christian virtues.
2. O God my Father, help me to trust you in every situation I found myself.
3. I rebuke every Abimelech that wants to steal the blessings of God away from my life, in the name of Jesus.
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