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God Protects His Own, February 9
Genesis 12:10-20
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their
sakes; saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Psalm 105:14, 15
.
It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that
some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He
puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions
that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden
from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects
and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and
teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus
His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to
fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them....
During his stay in Egypt, Abraham gave evidence that he was not free from
human weakness and imperfection. In concealing the fact that Sarah was his
wife, he betrayed a distrust of the divine care, a lack of that lofty faith and
courage so often and nobly exemplified in his life.... He reasoned that he was not
guilty of falsehood in representing Sarah as his sister, for she was the daughter
of his father, though not of his mother. But this concealment of the real relation
between them was deception. No deviation from strict integrity can meet God’s
approval. Through Abraham’s lack of faith, Sarah was placed in great peril. The
king of Egypt, being informed of her beauty, caused her to be taken to his palace,
intending to make her his wife. But the Lord, in His great mercy, protected Sarah
by sending judgments upon the royal household....
The warning that had been given to Pharaoh proved a protection to Abraham
in his after-intercourse with heathen peoples; ... it was seen that the God whom
Abraham worshiped would protect His servant, and that any injury done him
would be avenged. It is a dangerous thing to wrong one of the children of the
King of heaven
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20
Ibid., 129-131
.
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