I can't believe I missed grace. Having spent my normal, week-long meditation upon, study of, and writing out the sermon on Genesis 12:10-20--and my 30 minutes actually preaching it from the pulpit--I still missed it. It was only after the sermon, after the closing song, after meeting and greeting the people as they filed out of the auditorium that Don mentioned, "Isn't that amazing about grace." "Was grace in the passage this morning?" I thought.
Hmmm. Yes, there it is. In the middle of the details and the narrative of this ancient passage is the presence and extension of grace. I can't believe I missed grace.
Even though Abram blew it royally (hiding behind Sarai as a human shield, literally) he was still given great wealth: "and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys..." (vs. 16). Even though he, humanly speaking, threatened the "seed" aspect of the covenant by putting Sarai into danger--she was absconded into the harem of Pharaoh because Abram did not believe that God would indeed protect him like he said He would--"I will bless you...and the one who curses you I will curse" (vs. 3). Even though he proceeded forward with his dastardly premeditated "Plan B" to protect his interests (even above his wife's welfare)...God still allowed Abram to receive great wealth through the agency of Pharaoh!
That's a picture of grace if ever there were one! God actively shows His favor toward the ones who are actively disfavorable in identity and activity.
You know what, I can believe I missed grace--I've missed it so many times. But even to this actively disfavorable one--who misses grace despite a complete work-week spent hovering around this passage--God actively shows His favor for His own glory.
Here's the link to the audio file, but don't miss grace like I did:
www.fellowshipsiloam.org/audio/2009_10_04_ABE&SARAH
Hmmm. Yes, there it is. In the middle of the details and the narrative of this ancient passage is the presence and extension of grace. I can't believe I missed grace.
Even though Abram blew it royally (hiding behind Sarai as a human shield, literally) he was still given great wealth: "and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys..." (vs. 16). Even though he, humanly speaking, threatened the "seed" aspect of the covenant by putting Sarai into danger--she was absconded into the harem of Pharaoh because Abram did not believe that God would indeed protect him like he said He would--"I will bless you...and the one who curses you I will curse" (vs. 3). Even though he proceeded forward with his dastardly premeditated "Plan B" to protect his interests (even above his wife's welfare)...God still allowed Abram to receive great wealth through the agency of Pharaoh!
That's a picture of grace if ever there were one! God actively shows His favor toward the ones who are actively disfavorable in identity and activity.
You know what, I can believe I missed grace--I've missed it so many times. But even to this actively disfavorable one--who misses grace despite a complete work-week spent hovering around this passage--God actively shows His favor for His own glory.
Here's the link to the audio file, but don't miss grace like I did:
www.fellowshipsiloam.org/audio/2009_10_04_ABE&SARAH
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