Who did What?

We see Abraham lying at times. He twice told people that his wife was his sister. He was worried that someone might kill him because his old wife was so beautiful. In the text that I read today, he comes into territory ruled by Abimelek and tells the great fib. Not too long afterward, the king takes Sarah into his harem. 

Lately, I have become interested in real estate investing and have learned quite a bit in the last few years. One crucial lesson acquired was that I need to treat investing as a business and not have too many sentimental attachments. Years ago, I would rent with a "charitable" mindset. I kept the rent low on my only rental because I was "helping people (friends) out." I kept that rent low for 20 years. For those years, that rent never moved from $650 a month. 

Granted, we could keep the property and barely pay the maintenance and taxes, but the rent was low. It wasn't until I turned that property over to a property manager that I realized what a stupid thing that I had done all those years. My Property Manager took over the rent from $650 a month to over $1,700 per month!! 

Rental properties are just that; they are investments, not children or family members. They are investments. They should be kept up and nice-looking to a certain degree. However, you don't need to feel like they have to be precisely how you would want them if you were to live there. 

What does this have to do with Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelek?? Just this. Abimelek was taking a piece of Abraham's property when he took Sarah into his harem. He didn't need to sleep with her to make his point; he was acquiring ownership of a new sign of authority or partnership with Abraham, who was an important man at the time. 

Abraham had set up this awkward situation when he lied to the king about his relationship with his wife. The intriguing part of this story is what God says to Abimelek just after his harem acquisition. "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." 

If that wouldn't send a wretched bile-like taste from stomach to mouth in a quick hurry, then you are not alive. 

God talking to you in kind tones would send fear into your soul. But this "I am going to kill you talk" ... Wow. 

When the king pleads his innocence, God agrees with him. God then goes on to say, "I have kept you from sinning against me." 

Wait, what? Who did what here? Abe lies. Abimelek doesn't lie with Sarah. God accuses Abimelek and then says, "I kept you from sinning against me." Interesting. 

In all of this story, God was in charge. He threatened death but proved his control by keeping things above board and not letting the king lie with his newly acquired property. The other aspect of this story is that Sarah was used as a pawn here. She played the part and was nearly the cause of disaster for a nation. 

God came to a pagan king in a dream to tell him what to do, and the king immediately did what was necessary to rectify the situation. 

Lessons we learn: 

• God is sovereign. We can trust that fact. No matter who thinks who is running our country, in the end, it is God who dictates what is going to happen. 
• Abraham was a great man, but he was also a lier. He did great things, trusted God, and earned Hall of Faith states in Hebrews 11. However, he was human, just like you and me. 
• God protects his plan, and nothing can prevent it. We are inundated with fake news every day from all different sources. God isn't fazed by such nonsense. He is working on the plan, and you need to be ready whatever happens in Washington or Beijing.