Why did I do that? Genesis 12
Why did I do that?
I stand there feeling the heat rise in my face. I am sure everyone is staring at me.
We make decisions all day long; some good and some terrible. Would it surprise you to know that many of those, seemingly random choices aren't random at all?
Not everyone has the same fears, but our reactions are much the same; sweaty palms, racing heart, stomach knots, nausea, dizziness......ANXIETY
When your brain perceives a threat that your eyes, ears, nose or body have sensed it whirls into action. The brains threat center, the amygdala, is always looking out for danger. Once the alarm is sounded it kicks into high gear. In my case, my mouth took over.
He also gave us the Holy Spirit.
I try to cover up the rude comment that I spewed but it's to late.
The damage is done. There is no going back.
We make decisions all day long; some good and some terrible. Would it surprise you to know that many of those, seemingly random choices aren't random at all?
Our knee jerk response comes from our desire to save face (pride and fear).
We have a habit of allowing fear to have the wheelhouse and steer our ship.
Fear causes us to tell lies, hide facts, and avoid people. When do all we can to not come face with anger, disappointment, a ticket, ridicule or spiders.
Not everyone has the same fears, but our reactions are much the same; sweaty palms, racing heart, stomach knots, nausea, dizziness......ANXIETY
When your brain perceives a threat that your eyes, ears, nose or body have sensed it whirls into action. The brains threat center, the amygdala, is always looking out for danger. Once the alarm is sounded it kicks into high gear. In my case, my mouth took over.
God designed us to be this way for our protection, however a lack of faith causes us to go into protection mode when we should be humble, stepping out in faith or learning a valuable lesson.
There is an override switch that we can call on.
He also gave us the Holy Spirit.
A spirit of boldness, peace, faith and truth is always at our disposal!
It takes practice to learn to flip that switch and go from fear to faith.
Abraham, being human, faces all these same issues. When faced with the fear of death because of Sarah's beauty he lied, not once but twice, putting Sarah in great danger. He allowed fear to cause him to run away instead of trusting God. We will see in his life, he gets a lot of practice as he learns to trust God.
It takes practice to learn to flip that switch and go from fear to faith.
Abraham, being human, faces all these same issues. When faced with the fear of death because of Sarah's beauty he lied, not once but twice, putting Sarah in great danger. He allowed fear to cause him to run away instead of trusting God. We will see in his life, he gets a lot of practice as he learns to trust God.
Hope Wirta
He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD is thy keeper:
The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
He shall preserve thy soul.
8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
From this time forth, and even for evermore.
TODAYS SCRIPTURE READING:
Genesis 12:10-20
New International Version (NIV)
Abram in Egypt
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Genesis 12:10-20
New International Version (NIV)
Abram in Egypt
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels.
17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.
Genesis 20:1-8
New International Version (NIV)
Abraham and Abimelek
20 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscienceand clean hands.”
6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
13 For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
Exodus 14:13 (NIV)
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
Psalm 121
1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
From whence cometh my help.
2My help cometh from the LORD,
Which made heaven and earth.
He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4Behold, he that keepeth Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.5The LORD is thy keeper:
The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6The sun shall not smite thee by day,
Nor the moon by night.7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:
He shall preserve thy soul.
8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in
From this time forth, and even for evermore.
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