WHEN FEAR LEADS TO DECEPTION
OCTOBER 31, 2024
TEXT: GENESIS 12:13
“Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.”
Fear is a spirit backed by the devil. It is an unconscious feeling that comes upon an individual, making them prone to committing unguarded errors and taking uncalculated steps.
From our text above, a full reading of all accompanying verses reveals Abraham’s migration to Egypt to escape the ravaging famine in the land of Canaan. However, due to an existing heathen tendency, where men would kill any man found with a beautiful wife and take her for themselves, fear and trepidation took over Abraham. He felt the only way to be secure was to lie about the identity of Sarah, his wife. He did so, eventually compromising his Godly virtues and values.
Abraham’s dishonest action arose largely from the following reasons:
✅ Fear of Death: Fear of death due to his wife’s beauty
✅ Fear of Loss: Fear of loss (even if he escaped death, he feared losing his wife)
✅ Fear of the Unknown
As believers, it is mandatory for us to strive to keep our cool at all times and not allow fear to overwhelm our decision-making. Decisions taken during a period of fear are unlikely to end well. Some consequences may include:
✅ Loss of Integrity: Integrity is who you are, what you represent, and what can be said about you in your presence or absence. Decisions taken in the heat of the moment may stain one’s integrity.
✅ Compromising Relationships: Such decisions may lead to compromising one’s stand on religious beliefs.
✅ Harm to Others: If Abraham had been truthful, perhaps Pharaoh wouldn’t have attempted anything sinister with Sarah. However, Abraham’s dishonesty led to God afflicting Pharaoh’s household because of Sarah.
Key Steps to Take
✅ Seek God’s guidance first in all instances. Abraham observed famine in the land; God instructed him to leave his father’s house and go to Canaan. He could have asked God for directions but made his own decision.
✅ Ensure honesty and integrity are your top priorities as a believer in all circumstances.
✅ Identify fear-driven motivations, seek God’s guidance, and prioritize integrity.
PRAYER: O LORD, destroy the spirit of fear, and fill my heart with the spirit of faith, in Jesus’ Mighty name.
BIBLE READING: Ezekiel 43-45, Mark 1.
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
