Abraham stood at a crossroads, the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah behind him, cities he had tried to save. His nephew Lot’s family was shattered, with only Lot and his two daughters surviving. How could he process the events that transpired?
You might find yourself in a similar situation, grappling with family troubles and outcomes that defy your hopes, despite your prayers. Disturbing memories linger, and unanswered questions cloud your peace.
“Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while, he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.” (Genesis 20 v 1-2)
What did Abraham do?
- He moved on – He got back to his own purpose in life, to explore Canaan. This is still the invitation today for us to explore all that God has for us.
- He moved into – He went into a new place. Sometimes we need to turn a new page, bring new people into our lives, and do something different.
- He lived between – He was between two places. This best sums up Abraham’s life. Earth was not all there was. “He was a stranger in a foreign country” (Hebrews). That’s how we should live our lives with an eternal focus; we are in between.
- He stayed in Gerar – It was here that he sinned in precisely the same way – “She is my sister”. But something happened here in this place where he stayed. His sin affected his son, who learnt from his father and did the same thing to his wife, Rebekah, in the same place, in Genesis 26. Sometimes, the decisions we make out of fear lead the next generation into the same sin.
Abraham’s journey teaches us that moving forward is possible, but how we move matters.
Missions Paul 