[Discoveries] 03-01-08 God works with what He has -- Genesis 12:17

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household 
because of Abram's wife Sarai. -- Genesis 12:17*/

Abram succumbs to fear and tells his wife to tell everyone that she is 
Abram's sister. In that culture, that gets Abram off the hook (they 
won't kill him to get his wife), but leaves Sarai in a vulnerable spot. 
Along comes Pharaoh. Sarai is beautiful, Pharaoh is impressed, and she 
gets added to the harem.

This whole scenario reminds me of a television soap opera. What a mess! 
Abram is getting rich on his own lies, but he's lost his wife. Sarai is 
beautiful but trapped. And nobody can muster the courage to tell Mr. 
Powerful the truth.

Think about all the ways God could have responded to this. He could have 
abandoned Abram and started over with someone who had the guts to tell 
the truth. He could have insisted that Abram go and confront Pharaoh and 
give back all the wealth he gained as "payment" for Sarai.

But God takes a different approach. He Himself confronts Pharaoh. He 
sends a very clear message to Mr. Powerful -- Pharaoh has made a mistake 
and he will pay dearly for it if he doesn't make things right.

What's the lesson? God works with what He has. While He has a right to 
demand whatever He wants from any of us, He doesn't wait until we are 
perfect before He intervenes on our behalf. We may have created a total 
mess, but He knows how to cut through it and set us free.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

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