Most men would run to the rescue of their wives if they were ever in physical danger. Some may even bravely risk their death for their cherished wife. However, one of the greatest men of God who ever lived, Abraham, failed that very test.
If you aren't familiar with the Bible, it's time you were because we're seeing a lot of it acted out in today's current events. Abraham is the spiritual father of both today's Muslims and today's Jews. Yet, even though they are brothers, they also are sworn enemies. In fact, Iran's current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has sworn to obliterate Israel. He won't succeed, of course, because God has other events in mind, but he can cause a lot of mischief.
The hostility began to grow with Father Abraham, but we won't go into that part of it in this article. Instead, let's look at his betrayal of his wife. The man should have known better because by then, he was 75 years old. Moreover, in those days, women were looked upon as possessions, in most cases, rather than people to be honored and treated with respect. Come to think of it, there are men in civilizations in today's world that look at women as something beneath them.
Abraham (known then as Abram) lived a nomadic existence so had to move around a lot to feed his herds. On this one occasion, he gathered up his tents, his wife, Sarai (later to be named Sarah), his nephew, Lot, and his servants, and headed for Negeb - a tract of land that lay to the south in Palestine. Although arid, it was known for its rich pasture for cattle. When he got there, however, he was greeted by a famine. He altered his course and went to Egypt, instead, where he was about to tell a whopping big lie well, it almost was a whopper.
Sarai, Abraham's wife, was a most beautiful women, and was admired her features, even at a mature age. Just before the couple arrived into Egypt, Abraham told her, "I realize that you are a most beautiful woman to behold; and that when the Egyptians lay eyes on you, they will remark, 'This is his wife', after that though they will kill me but show mercy on you and will let you live. Say that you are my sister instead, that it may go over well with me and the Egyptians that my life may indeed be spared." Sarai agreed, as she was a loyal wife to her husband. What other choice did she have at that moment?
When they made an entrance into the country, sure enough, the woman caused a stir. King Pharaoh's princes investigated and were astonished at her beauty. Pharoah was informed. Delighted, he added her to his harem. He was so pleased with his newest wife (her mature age didn't make a bit of difference to him), that he gave Abraham gifts: sheep, oxen, donkeys, menservants, maidservants, and camels.
The whole dilemma got both men in trouble. God was not pleased. He had plans for Abraham and Sarai and he didn't want them messed up. The Almighty scourged the ruler of Egypt and his household with plagues, and made it clear to Pharaoh in a dream that he was a goner if he didn't let Sarai go.
"She's his wife?" Pharaoh screeched. "Bring that man here." Abraham, quaking in his sandals, was brought to stand before the royal throne. "What is this that you have done to me?" the king grated out between clenched teeth. "Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, she is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? Take her and get away." She actually was his half-sister as well as his wife, but half a lie was no better than a full deception.
God sees everything we do and hears everything we say. We're even told in Scripture that he reads our thoughts. That's not a stretch. Think about it, Since the Creator of the universe hung this big ball that we live on in space with no strings attached to hold it up, and he causes birds to fly south in the winter and north in the summer, and he has designed our bodies with it's gazillion parts, reading our minds and hearing our thoughts has got to be a small thing for him.
Abraham knew at once that he had to leave. God forgave his sins and after some years advanced, a sheer miracle occurred. Sarai had become pregnant and gave birth to a little baby boy, Isaac, whose descendants are the very Jews of this day. The miracle is, as far as scholars of the bible can tell, that she likely was well into her nineties by that time.
Men are to be protectors and defenders of their wives, whom they are to cherish, honor, and love. We have a plethora of reasons for making said statement, and there's more to it than mere words, as you come to understand when you read through our material and books written just for husbands. These can help to assist you in understanding and utilizing ways to foster such a relationship with your own wife. Whatever state your marriage is currently in, this material can alleviate present troubles between the two of you, and replace them with attention, affection, care, and of course delight back into to your relationship.
If you aren't familiar with the Bible, it's time you were because we're seeing a lot of it acted out in today's current events. Abraham is the spiritual father of both today's Muslims and today's Jews. Yet, even though they are brothers, they also are sworn enemies. In fact, Iran's current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has sworn to obliterate Israel. He won't succeed, of course, because God has other events in mind, but he can cause a lot of mischief.
The hostility began to grow with Father Abraham, but we won't go into that part of it in this article. Instead, let's look at his betrayal of his wife. The man should have known better because by then, he was 75 years old. Moreover, in those days, women were looked upon as possessions, in most cases, rather than people to be honored and treated with respect. Come to think of it, there are men in civilizations in today's world that look at women as something beneath them.
Abraham (known then as Abram) lived a nomadic existence so had to move around a lot to feed his herds. On this one occasion, he gathered up his tents, his wife, Sarai (later to be named Sarah), his nephew, Lot, and his servants, and headed for Negeb - a tract of land that lay to the south in Palestine. Although arid, it was known for its rich pasture for cattle. When he got there, however, he was greeted by a famine. He altered his course and went to Egypt, instead, where he was about to tell a whopping big lie well, it almost was a whopper.
Sarai, Abraham's wife, was a most beautiful women, and was admired her features, even at a mature age. Just before the couple arrived into Egypt, Abraham told her, "I realize that you are a most beautiful woman to behold; and that when the Egyptians lay eyes on you, they will remark, 'This is his wife', after that though they will kill me but show mercy on you and will let you live. Say that you are my sister instead, that it may go over well with me and the Egyptians that my life may indeed be spared." Sarai agreed, as she was a loyal wife to her husband. What other choice did she have at that moment?
When they made an entrance into the country, sure enough, the woman caused a stir. King Pharaoh's princes investigated and were astonished at her beauty. Pharoah was informed. Delighted, he added her to his harem. He was so pleased with his newest wife (her mature age didn't make a bit of difference to him), that he gave Abraham gifts: sheep, oxen, donkeys, menservants, maidservants, and camels.
The whole dilemma got both men in trouble. God was not pleased. He had plans for Abraham and Sarai and he didn't want them messed up. The Almighty scourged the ruler of Egypt and his household with plagues, and made it clear to Pharaoh in a dream that he was a goner if he didn't let Sarai go.
"She's his wife?" Pharaoh screeched. "Bring that man here." Abraham, quaking in his sandals, was brought to stand before the royal throne. "What is this that you have done to me?" the king grated out between clenched teeth. "Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, she is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? Take her and get away." She actually was his half-sister as well as his wife, but half a lie was no better than a full deception.
God sees everything we do and hears everything we say. We're even told in Scripture that he reads our thoughts. That's not a stretch. Think about it, Since the Creator of the universe hung this big ball that we live on in space with no strings attached to hold it up, and he causes birds to fly south in the winter and north in the summer, and he has designed our bodies with it's gazillion parts, reading our minds and hearing our thoughts has got to be a small thing for him.
Abraham knew at once that he had to leave. God forgave his sins and after some years advanced, a sheer miracle occurred. Sarai had become pregnant and gave birth to a little baby boy, Isaac, whose descendants are the very Jews of this day. The miracle is, as far as scholars of the bible can tell, that she likely was well into her nineties by that time.
Men are to be protectors and defenders of their wives, whom they are to cherish, honor, and love. We have a plethora of reasons for making said statement, and there's more to it than mere words, as you come to understand when you read through our material and books written just for husbands. These can help to assist you in understanding and utilizing ways to foster such a relationship with your own wife. Whatever state your marriage is currently in, this material can alleviate present troubles between the two of you, and replace them with attention, affection, care, and of course delight back into to your relationship.
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