Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

Genesis 20:2-7

Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

A couple of things hit me in these verses. First, if God had not spoken to Abimelech, Abraham's half-truth would have cost him his life and the lives of all who were his. A single sin, no matter how "small", (in God's eyes, no sin is small), can have devistating consequences to other people even if they are trying to live with integrity. Abimelech was merely acting properly in light of what Abraham and Sarah had said. He had no intent of doing anything wrong. But had God not interviened, Abimelech would have paid dearly for Abraham's omission of the truth.

Also, God withheld Abimelech from sinning. It's often said that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Abilelech was completely ignorant of the fact that Sarah was the wife of another man. The way things looked to him, he was violating nothing. But God cannot stand to see His law violated, even if it is done in ignorance. So God, knowing Abimelech was trying to act with integrity, didn't even let Abimelech touch Sarah. Once Abimelech knew the truth of the matter he had a choice to make. He could either restore Sarah to Abraham or continue on a path that would lead to his distruction.

This wasn't the first instance of Abraham showing his fear of men was greater than his fear of God. Yet God kept His promise to bless Abraham. It kind of puzzles me that God would have such severe consequences in store for an "innocent mistake" yet greatly bless the person who sinned to start that wrath ball rolling. Just gotta chalk it up to God is soviergn.

I need to ever aware that even what may seem like a small sin can bring terrible consequences to innocent people around me. Also, I need to make sure I act with integrity in all my dealings and pray that even if acting in innocnce and ignorance, God will not allow me to sin. I guess I understand a litle better the closing of Jude:

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
Amen.