Genesis 20 Stumbling at the Threshold of Blessing - Never too late to mess it up

The end to the Chicago Marathon - 26 miles 385 yards) - 2:07:35

Sunday, October 22, 2006 | 7:29 PM

CLIP

Article By Evelyn Holmes

October 22, 2006 -- This was the controversial end for Sunday's Chicago marathon! 40-thousand runners filled the city's streets on a windy and cool race day, but there are questions about the male winner's finish. He was taken to the hospital after slipping and hitting his head, while crossing the finish line.

Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot will be held at Northwestern Hospital overnight for observation after suffering internal and external head bleeding as a result that head injury as he crossed the finish line.

The controversy began when Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot prepared to cross the finish line in victory. That's when he slipped, fell backwards and hit his head on the pavement as fans looked on. The slip backward caused him to bang his head, causing internal and external bleeding. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He had no recollection of what had happened immediately afterward and asked his coach if he had won.

As Cheruiyot received emergency medical attention, the marathon's judges wondered whether his win was legitimate after questions began to surface about whether his chest actually broke the plane of the finish line -- as race rules require.

10/24/06 Update: CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot left the hospital on Tuesday after spending two nights there with a mild concussion he sustained when he slipped at the finish line. The 28-year-old had sprinted away from fellow Kenyan Daniel Njenga during the final stretch of Sunday's race His momentum carried him across the line, making him the winner in two hours seven minutes 35 seconds. Cheruiyot, this year's Boston Marathon champion, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He had no recollection of what had happened immediately afterward and asked his coach if he had won. But his agent, Federico Rosa, said his client's memory is intact. There were decals with the marathon's logo at the finish line, but Rosa did not blame them for the fall. He suggested after the race and during a news conference on Monday that wet conditions, shoes and even just a lack of balance caused Cheruiyot to slip.

I. Stumbling at the threshold: Unlearned lessons

Can look back at our lives and see recurring themes

In Abraham’s life the following apply (maybe us too)

A. Wanderingaway v 1

(ESV) Genesis 20 1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and livedbetween Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar.

1. Faced with trouble / fear

B. Schemingand lying v 2a

(ESV) Genesis 20 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelechking of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

1. Take things in my hands – and sin

C. Justifyingsin v 11-12

(ESV) Genesis 20 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.

1. Always an excuse

D. BlamingGod v 13a

(ESV) Genesis 20 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘…

1. Anyone but me – not the fruit of my own consequences

E. Manipulatingothers v 13b

(ESV) Genesis 20 13 … said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

1. Self scheming

2. Half truths

3. Recurring patterns of sin

4. Blame God

II. Stumbling at the threshold: Bad responses=Bad results

A. Destroy influence before the lost v 9a

(ESV) Genesis 20 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? …

1. No wonder we have lost our influence

B. Victimize the innocent v 3-5a

(ESV) Genesis 20 3 But God came to Abimelechin a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ …

1. The innocent pay the price for our sin

C. Endanger God’s intended blessings Gen 18:14; 20:2b

(ESV) Genesis 18 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

(ESV) Genesis 20 2 … And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

1. Danger of messing up God’s plan for our lives

III. Stumbling at the threshold: Right responses from unlikely sources

The expected response that should have come from Abraham instead comes from the pagan ruler Abimilech. Face with trouble he responds properly.

A. Righteous response in trouble v 5b-6

(ESV) Genesis 20 5 … In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, …

1. Integrity of character

2. Innocence in action

B. Fearof God v 8

(ESV) Genesis 20 8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid.

1. Respond to God’s righteousness

2. Concerned about disobedience

C. Confront the wayward v 9b-10

(ESV) Genesis 20 9 … You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?”

1. Identified the wrong

2. Questioned their motives

D. Honor God’s promises v 14-16

(ESV) Genesis 20 14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.

15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

1. Not give them their just reward

2. Bless them receive blessing

3. Bless those who bless him

IV. Stumbling at the threshold: God’s graciousness everywhere

In spite of the stumbling, God still reveals His grace.

A. Direct intervention v 18

(ESV) Genesis 20 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. …

1. Steps in to prevent the consequences of sin (grace)

B. Undeserved protection v 6b

(ESV) Genesis 20 6 … Then God said to him in the dream, … it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.

1. Maintains His plan in spite of failure (grace)

C. Work in the lives of others

(ESV) Genesis 20 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; … But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” 8 …and the men were very much afraid.

1. Convicts them / leads them / reveals Himself to them (grace)

(ESV) Genesis 20 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. …

2. Protects his position before the Lord in their eyes (grace)

D. An opportunity for restoration v 17

(ESV) Genesis 20 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.

1. God offered the opportunity to get back on track – if respond in a godly manner again (grace)

2. Personal response

3. Draw again to God

4. Be a blessing to others by praying for them

E. Faithfulness to His promises

(ESV) Genesis 21 1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.

1. Delivered on His promises (grace)

How can the Lord do this? Deserved trouble, but found grace.

Christ would come and pay for the wandering and sin. Abraham by trusting in the Lord has this payment applied and now lives by grace.

Us too.

The rest of the story of the marathon: Chicago Marathon Referee Pat Savage declared the final decision: "He ended up sliding right across. The chip was across and his torso was across and there was no doubt about that. So he's the winner. Robert received grace as well. He finished the race the victor in spite of his stumble.