DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 25 April 2023
TOPIC: Divine Judgment Against Sin
KEY VERSE:
“For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.”
(Genesis 20:18)
DCLM Daily Manna Tuesday 25 April 2023 MESSAGE
The late Southern Baptist evangelist, R.G. Lee, had a message he often preached entitled “Pay-day some-day”. The thrust of the message was that you may live a life of sin and appear to be getting away with it but judgment is sure to come, whether in this life or in eternity.
In our text, there is a new dimension to God’s judgment for erring sinners. Even when sin is committed ignorantly, there is need to make amends immediately one comes under conviction. Failure to repent attracts the judgment of God. Abimelech, king of Gerar took Sarah, Abraham’s wife when it was thought she was Abraham’s sister.
However, in a dream, God demanded that she be returned to her husband. Abimelech justified his actions based on the apparent lie Abraham and Sarah had told him; which now turned out to have been done out of the fear he had of losing his life over his beautiful wife. By this time, God had already sealed up the wombs of all the women in Abimelech’s household as part of the initial judgment for his actions.
Abraham and Sarah were then summoned by Abimelech and the truth of their actions was revealed. Abimelech reproved them and restored Sarah to Abraham with a handsome compensation.
On the surface, it appears Abimelech dealt in innocence, but God still found some grounds to condemn his actions. This was the second time Sarah was being taken and restored by a king. Generally, kings used their authority to deny the rights of the innocent. Abimelech’s enquiries and investigation appeared not detailed enough in his desire to have Sarah.
We may justify our actions a thousand times, but God who knows the hearts of men knows whether we are guilty or not. In any case, when we come to realise our sins, it is required of us to repent and make amends.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is no significant for sin; only justification by faith in Christ.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Romans 13-16
