When we sin we remember ~ Bob Coy

ABRAHAM HAS HIS FLAWS

Now the LORD had said to Abram? "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing." -Genesis 12:1-2 (NKJV)

The Bible takes a radical turn in Genesis Chapter 12. Instead of viewing humanity with a wide-angle lens, it narrows its focus to a single man and his ancestry. Abram (or Abraham) is the man, and his lineage eventually leads to the nation of Israel.



Abraham is distinguished as few others in the Bible. In Romans 4:1-4, Paul teaches that he is the prototype of every person who places his or her faith in God. Romans 4:11-12 also tells us that Abraham is the forefather of every true believer in God. And as if that weren't enough, we read in Galatians 3:29 that all Christians are of Abraham's spiritual seed. The point is simply this: Abraham is a unique character who carries a lot of clout in God's Kingdom.



And yet, not even he was able to shake free from sin's stranglehold. As a matter of fact, the Bible is very deliberate in sharing Abraham's sins with us-from fleeing the land God told him to abide in to concealing his wife's identity in order to save his own skin. Scripture doesn't pull any punches; it even records the humiliating exchange between Abraham and Pharaoh (a godless man) who teaches this father of the faith a lesson about telling the truth (Genesis 12:18-19).



Why does the Bible reveal this about Abraham? In part, it's to remind us that even those with the most impressive spiritual resumes are subject to sin. This isn't an encouragement for us to sin, but an encouragement through sin. When we sin we remember that even a foundational figure like Abraham was flawed, yet God still did great things through him, and He can do the same through us.

Discuss, Dig, Decide

Discuss with your group why consequences are so serious when a person of power and position falls into sin. Recall a time when you’ve seen a flawed foundation end up causing drastic results. What lesson did you learn from this tragedy?

Dig into Genesis Chapters 12 and 13. What things did God promise to Abraham? How did his personal sin affect the lives of others? How did God use Pharaoh in this instance? Who is God using in your life to keep you from sin?

Decide as a group to cover in prayer those in positions of spiritual authority over you. Pastors, teachers, elders, whoever God has placed over you—intercede for them in prayer! Ask God to keep them from the deception of sin and to strengthen them in the face of temptation.