Genesis 20: 9-11 ERV – Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “Why have you done this to us? What wrong did I do to you? Why did you lie and say that she was your sister? You brought great trouble to my kingdom. You should not have done this to me. What were you afraid of? Why did you do this to me?”
Abraham was a man of God and the father of faith. He walked closely with his Creator, following wherever the Lord led him spiritually and literally. On one of his journeys, he travelled and lived in Gerar. Assuming that the people of the city would steal his wife, he lied about his true relationship with Sarah; He introduced her as his sister.
Genesis 20:11 ERV – ‘Then Abraham said, “I thought no one in this place respected God. I thought someone would kill me to get Sarah.”’
He made a decision based on fear and assumption and that placed his wife at risk as she was taken to be King Abimelech’s wife. Contrary to Abraham’s opinion about Abimelech, he was a man of integrity who feared God. Abraham’s assumption put his wife at risk and put an innocent king at risk of judgement from God.
Genesis 20:3-5 NLT – But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
Applying this to our daily lives, it is important not to make assumptions about people but trust God to give us the spirit of discernment. Pleasing God and loving men should be our focus rather than judging people we don’t know especially when it is out of fear.
In situations where we find it hard to trust people – rather than make assumptions about them – we should pray to God for discernment on how to deal with the situation. We have no right to judge or place ourselves in a role of superiority when interacting with people who don’t look like us or maybe haven’t had the same Christian upbringing. Only God knows the contents of men’s hearts and they may very well be people of integrity. When we follow God’s way of relating with people, we will not resort to lying or scheming to protect ourselves.
In the event that we meet people who want to harm us, God has promised to give us wisdom to overcome. Luke 21:14-15 NKJV – ‘Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.’
Assumptions come from a place of fear and pride but God resists the proud. Your walk with God is not an indication that people who don’t look like you are evil. Trust God to protect you and decide right now to live with grace in your heart towards all people.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege to be transformed by my walk with you. I recognize that everything I am is by your grace and that I am no better than others. Please help me to have an attitude of love towards all people. Amen.