Like Father Like Son
It is not by coincidence in God's backward plan that a fatherless and homeless man Abram would be called to become a dynasty...
The last resort is often the most likely possibility.
First, Abram was old.
Second, Abram's wife Sarai was also old and barren.
Third, Abram had no true heir and therefore his parenting skills were lacking greatly. He had no practice at being a Patriarch... Because He wasn't born that way.
Genesis 12:11-13
And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou [art] a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This [is] his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 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.
Abram was a man just like us. The false notion that God needs perfect people to prepare His will on earth is a great force for evil in the world. This idea that perfection or goodness is attainable is downright demonically inspired and has 'shut up the kingdom of God' for many people. Just because we say that Abram was faithful doesn't mean that he didn't struggle with faith. In truth, the Bible paints a darker, faithless portrait of Abram, one seldom illustrated in our Sunday School manuals.
Before Abram could become a father of many... he needed to become a husband of one.
If a man's heart desires to be in the family of God, he must learn first how to be a husband (this includes me in a month or so...).
Abram was old but he wasn't blind, he could see that his wife was still good looking. But he couldn't see that his plan for protecting her was dishonest, lacking in the faith of God's protection, and downright selfish to point of self preservation as his ultimate goal.
Abram was more willing to lose his wife than lose his life. He thought he was protecting the promised dynasty but instead was protecting his own hide.
Most unfortunately, this action set a dangerous precedent for Abram's continuing life and marriage. Sometimes mistakes are far more costly to leaders than they are to followers. Husbands must remember this when making decisions on their own. One decision can reflect the way your relationship with your wife will develop.
Genesis 26: 6-7
And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
And the men of the place asked [him] of his wife; and he said, She [is] my sister: for he feared to say, [She is] my wife; lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she [was] fair to look upon.
Fathers remember your children watch and mimic your actions and decisions. They may seem too young now but a child remembers the strangest things. A children may speak hatred with their lips, but dependence with their action. Parents are the biggest influence on their lives. Don't be physically or emotionally absent in parenting. If you are cold spiritually don't cry to the church when your children are as well.
Abram made this maddening mistake twice in his life and it should be no surprise that his son Isaac, his legacy, his dynasty followed suit with the same mistakes.
Protect your covenant, not just at church but also at home. Protect the promises of God no matter what situation and back alley following after them may take you.
You will become a dynasty of something, it may one of faith and obedience or one of sin.
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