SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, I had planned to finish this Bit yesterday, but the Hoy Spirit voted against it. I guess He wanted me to clear up a couple of loose ends; namely what happened to Abraham and Isaac after their deceptions were uncovered. Remember God called Abraham a prophet when talking of him to Abimelech: ‘…for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live.’ (Gen.20:7) Now, considering the circumstances, that was simply amazing Friends! And in restoring Sarah to Abraham, Abimelech also gave him numerous animals and servants, plus ‘a thousand pieces of silver,’ though the scholars claim that ‘pieces’ is inaccurate, since there were no coins at that time and everything was weighed, but it nonetheless showed his high esteem for Abraham and Sarah. ‘So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. For the Lord had fast closed up the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.’ (Gen.20:17-18) And who says our God doesn’t move in mysterious ways eh? For though Abraham was the wrongdoer, the Lord closed up the wombs of Abimelech’s women while Sarah dwelt in his household, and only reopened them after she was reunited untouched with Abraham. As for Isaac, Abimelech sternly rebuked him after he confessed his deception: ‘What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might lightly (soon) have laid with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.’ (Gen.26:10-11) More protection for His anointed one Friends, although Isaac was the original culprit. But what’s really interesting and amazing is that Abraham, after his two deceptions over Sarah, and Isaac after his over Rebekah, both increased very much in material wealth. We already know Abraham’s good fortune, now listen to the Good Book tell of Isaac’s: ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received (reaped) in the same year a hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed (grew) great, and went forward (continued prospering) until he became very great. For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and a great store (number) of servants: and the Philistines envied him.’ (Gen.26:12-14) Oh people, only a magnanimous, forgiving and LOVING God, who otherwise had big plans for those two followers, could have turned their mistakes into positions of higher esteem and greater earthly fortunes. That doesn’t mean though, that we can all expect more esteem and wealth when we make unwise decisions. (smile) The Lord had a purpose, a plan based on those two individuals, and if He had left them to their own devices, they would just have ruined it for themselves and all of us who came after them. It’s highly likely He would do it again today if one of His chosen was endangering an important plan through his fleshly lust and fear. However Friends, that’s not something we ought to count on, or take for granted because every situation is different, and the general process is that we will reap exactly what we sow. In Bruh Paul’s esteemed words to the Galatians: ‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ (Gal.6:7-8) And I’d like to end with some tried and true words from the story ‘The Seed’ that we recently spoke of. They just give us an idea of the bountiful and godly plants we will reap if we sow certain good seeds. ‘If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment. If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest. So be careful what you plant now, it will determine what you will reap later.’ Oh Friends, let’s go out now and sow as many of those good seeds as possible, so that we will reap a godly harvest later and thus further Jesus’ kingdom, as He greatly desires of us. Much LOVE!…we are the grass that will wither and die…but the incorruptible seed of God’s Word will live forever…sow it daily into the life of your family… (1 Pet.1:23-25)