Don’t Let Fear Abort Destiny
Remember that God had just given Abraham and Sarah a promised timeline to conceive and bear a son. Now, we have this story in Genesis 20 where Abraham gives Sarah to Abimelek saying she is his sister. The Lord intervenes and Abimelek not only repents, but discusses with Abraham the reason for the deception. Abraham had been dealing with fear. As a response to Sarah being in Abimelek’s household, God had shut all the wombs there. Once God had these men sort everything out, and Abraham has confessed his fear, God opens the wombs of all the women of Abimelek’s household. I believe that included Sarah’s.
Now, nine months after this, Sarah conceives and bears Abraham a son.
Abraham was so close to losing the promise God had made him. It was right around the corner. He had a three-month window where he could have lost it entirely due to his ongoing, undealt with fear, which was leading to sin and a building a major stronghold in his life. If God had not intervened, Sarah would no longer be Abraham’s wife. She would belong to Abimelek. There would have been no Isaac.
I think the Lord sent Abraham to Gerar knowing that this was in Abraham. Maybe He thought, “I have got to deal with this in this man. If I don’t deal with this now, sooner or later it is going to destroy him.” Think about this… If a guy is willing to give away his wife, he has got a pretty major stronghold. Now, think about this… There is probably no human being on earth that impacted history and the earth more than this man, who began the nation of Israel with a promise given from God.
“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.” (Genesis 21:1-2; NIV)
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
- Worship the Lord for His ability to save us—not just eternally, but in our life’s circumstances—over and over again!
- What would have happened if a man named Mordecai Ham had been afraid to preach the Gospel? Billy Graham may never have been saved. Millions brought to Christ through Billy Graham’s preaching may have never known the Lord, either. Think about this for a minute.
- Do you think your destiny might affect the destiny of others, or the destiny of a place? Think about that for a minute.
- Say, “God, break my strongholds down! History may be dependent on it.”
- Now, consider the connection of each Believer’s destiny with others. Intercede for the Body of Christ regarding this.
A prayer you can pray:
[In your own words or with your own song, worship the Lord for His goodness to you.] Father, You are the One I look to for salvation and deliverance from every work of the devil against me. You are determined to do everything You can do to keep me on Your track. I love this story of Abraham. I never thought before about how he almost messed up his own life, his promise of Isaac, and the long-term promise of establishing Your precious nation, Israel, just because he was afraid. Wow. That is really sobering. When I think about others that may have even aborted the destinies of others and the destinies of nations, it makes me really want to press into you. We really aren’t here to just love a nice life and hope we make it to heaven. We really are here for more than that. We really are here to do more than see men, women, and children ask Jesus into their hearts. We are here to fulfill Your purposes. And, God, we can trust You to give us what we need to make it to the end! You intervened in a dream to the ungodly king! You made him confront Abraham! You saved Sarah from being a victim of Abraham’s falsehood, so she could conceive Isaac. You are faithful to deliver! The Church needs You to do this. Miracuously deliver, Jesus. I need this. Break my strongholds down! History may be dependent on it. Amen.
Today’s decree:
Let God deal with your fear, so destiny can be fulfilled!