Making the Same Mistake

Although We Still Sin As We Struggle In Faith, God Still Extends His Amazing Grace

I’m exposed by that statement and filled with remorse. At the same time, I’m encouraged by it and can’t help but rejoice

“ONE time I was in such a hurry going somewhere to serve the Lord that I got pulled over by a police officer for speeding. He said, "Now, Pastor Evans, you know you're not supposed to be going this fast." I said, "I am so sorry. I am wrong and I deserve a ticket." Mercy kicked in. The officer said that he wouldn't give me what I deserved but he cautioned me to be careful with my speed. Now, I figured that since I had just left a policeman, I didn't have to worry about another one for a while. I hopped on my accelerator trying to hurry up and get to my destination. Now, I had just experienced mercy. I just had been relieved from justice. But it doesn't take long to forget mercy. I went back to almost the same speed. One and half miles later, another policeman pulls me over for speeding yet again. I got ready to plead again like I did the last time. He comes to tell me I'm speeding and I start to appeal to him for mercy. It looked like I was going to get mercy twice in a span of a mile and a half... until the first policeman came by.” (Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations)

As we Struggle in Faith, we are all Susceptible to Engaging in the Same Old Sins (Gen. 20:1-2, 8-13)

As we stumble forward in our walk of faith, we don’t get to the point when we outgrow sin. The goal is that we grow and mature so that we sin less and less. But, this side of heaven, we don’t get to the point of being sinless and perfect.

This is more than 25 years since Abraham used this same deception in Egypt in Genesis 12. After years of walk with the Lord, seeing his provision and protection, hearing his promises, and growing in faith he is still susceptible to the same old sin.

Genesis 20:1–2 NIV

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, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

OT is replete with illustrations of individuals who, though postcovenant, live as if they were precovenant. Abraham is not alone in illustrating moments of greatness intermingled with moments of disobedience and shortsightedness. (Victor Hamilton, NICOT)

We see examples of this in the NT as well. This is the issue that Paul is addressing throughout the book of 1 Corinthians.

1 John 1:8–10 NIV

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

This shouldn’t make us apathetic about sin. It should make us aware.

Aware of our weak points

Any relocation inevitably leads to a time of uncertainty. In many instances, transitions provide opportunities for temptation. When you are uprooted and have to deal with a whole new set of circumstances and people, you tend to go back to habitual ways of dealing with problems. (Iain Duguid, Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality, GSPLOT)

Proverbs 26:11 NIV

As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

There are certain old sins to which each of us are uniquely susceptible—“sin which clings so closely” (Hebrews 12:1). We each have our unique susceptibilities. Sins that may not appeal to others maintain a deadly lure for us and promote a tragic recidivism. Abraham’s clinging sin when pressured was to trust himself rather than God. Generally he trusted God. Abraham believed the divine promise, and it was credited to him as righteousness (15:6). But sometimes when pushed, he decided to give God a little help with a “little” lie. Inarticulate musings like, “Lord, I trust you, but I just want to make sure that things work out right” accompany such sins. (R. Kent Hughes, PTW)

Hebrews 12:1-3- Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Aware of our wrong thoughts

Abraham will do everything except tell the truth. He offers excuses and defends himself through uncalled-for false assumptions (v. 11), casuistry and a convoluted argument (v. 12), and an appeal to precedent (v. 13). (Victor Hamilton, NICOT)

Genesis 20:11–13 NIV

Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

The Complete Gathered Gold: A Treasury of Quotations for Christians Sin—Deceitfulness

If there is anything worse than our sins, it is our infinite capacity to rationalize it away.

Charles Colson

His assumption is that there was no fear of God there, and therefore, there was not sensitivity and respect for the rights of outsiders. He assumed that they were like Egypt or Sodom.

The irony lay in his heart—because Abraham’s fears were grounded in his own momentary lack of respect and reverential awe of God. Had he exhibited a proper fear of God, he would never have lied! (R. Kent Hughes)

The verb Abraham uses for wander (tāʿá) means to wander about hopelessly and aimlessly, often in a hostile environment. (Victor Hamilton, NICOT)

Proverbs 3:5–7 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

1 Corinthians 10:13- No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Romans 6:6-7, 11- For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin...In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

God is Still Graciously Faithfully Fulfilling His Purposes for us Even When we Fall Into Sin (Gen. 20:3-7, 14-18)

He intervenes in our iniquities by revealing it to bring correction

Abraham’s act hurts not only himself but Sarah as well. Abimelech’s taking Sarah jeopardizes not only himself but his kingdom as well. If a city can be saved by the presence of ten virtuous people, an empire can be dismantled by the actions of one guilty person. (Victor Hamilton, NICOT)

Genesis 20:3–5 NIV

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

Abimelech’s question is similar to Abraham’s question about God’s judgement of Sodom: Would he destroy the “righteous with the wicked” or here “an innocent nation” or literally “a righteous people”. He know that his sin wouldn’t just affect him. He says as much when he confronts Abraham, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom?”

In chapter 18 Abraham investigates the character of God. Here, Abimelech investigates the character of Abraham

Hebrews 4:13 NIV

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

He intervenes in our iniquities by restraining it for our protection

Anyway, it is the Lord’s intervention alone that in fact saved him from committing adultery (v. 6); in effect, he was saved from himself! (Kenneth Mathews, NAC)

Trusting God God Restrains People

The stories of God moving the Egyptians to provide for the Israelites and restraining the surrounding nations from invading Israel are meant to teach us and encourage us. These stories are meant to teach us that God is sovereign over people and to encourage us by the knowledge that God exercises His sovereignty for our good.

He intervenes in our iniquities by restoring us in keeping with His promise

The Lord restored Sarah to Abraham and so retained the possibility of the promised son arriving within the year.

The Lord restored Abraham’s sense of safety, which shouldn’t have faltered int he first place. Abraham is give resident status and his wealth is increased

The Lord restored Abraham’s ministry as a prophet and the father of a nation that was to be blessing to others.

The Lord restored the the ability to have children to the Abimelek’s household. This reemphasized that face that he was doing the same for Sarah.

God’s ability to use even our sins for his own purposes shows that he doesn’t love us simply for the great things we can do for him. There’s an additional verse to the children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me” that we don’t sing very often, but that captures this aspect of God’s love perfectly: ‘Jesus loves me when I’m good, When I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I’m bad, Though it makes him very sad’.” (Iain Duguid, Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality, GSPLOT)

His ultimate intervention for the sake of redemption and restoration is seen in Jesus on the Cross.

Romans 8:38–39 NIV

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:8-9- If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

“What more powerful consideration can be thought on to make us true to God, than the faithfulness and truth of God to us?” (William Gurnall)

Although We Still Sin As We Struggle In Faith, God Still Extends His Amazing Grace