Genesis 20-21

Sometimes, we can think of people in the Bible more highly than we ought to. Just imagine -- if the apostle Paul were alive and at Fireside today, what is something he would do wrong? What sin would you find in his life? What leadership decisions would he make that are unwise?

If we are honest, we would tend toward a thinking that the apostle Paul basically would do pretty much everything right. Maybe he’d speed through a yellow light while learning to drive, but he wouldn’t sin. Maybe he’d clock into work a few minutes late. But he wouldn't sin. Maybe he'd get a bad deal at BidFTA. But he wouldn't sin. We’d probably think the same thing of Moses, King David, and the apostle Peter. And the apostle John would love people perfectly, right?

Except, we have the Bible. We have a record of their lives, and a record of some of their sins. And it’s not a pretty one. At this point, we should just be thankful that God didn’t make a record of our lives, put it in print, and let the entire world read about it -- because there’d be a lot of dirty laundry there.

As we sort through Abraham and Sara’s dirty laundry, let’s keep in mind our own dirty laundry, and how God will keep his promises despite our sin, and uses the same sin, brokenness, and failures to accomplish his will for the good of those that love him (Rom 8:28). God works despite sin and circumstances; he is faithful and keeps his promises.