Day 10

Genesis 19–20 | Mark 3:22–4:9

“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.” (Genesis 20:2)

Some lessons in life take time to sink in. Others, no matter how many times we’re confronted with them, we seem doomed to repeat. That’s what makes Abraham’s story here so unsettling.

Despite everything God had already done for him—calling him out of Ur, protecting him, and even promising him descendants as numerous as the stars—Abraham falls into the same sin he committed years earlier. He once again tells a foreign king that Sarah is his sister, out of fear for his life. And years later, his son Isaac does the exact same thing with Rebekah, proving that our sins don’t just affect us—they ripple through generations.

As a father, that terrifies me. I think about my 12-year-old daughter and the example I’m setting for her. What patterns of fear, doubt, or compromise might I be passing down? Will she learn from my faith, or will she inherit my failures?

But Abraham’s story isn’t just a warning—it’s also a testimony to God’s grace. Despite Abraham’s repeated failure, God remains faithful, stepping in to protect Sarah and preserve His covenant. Abraham’s sin didn’t derail God’s plan. And that gives me hope.

I know I will fail. I will fall short. But what I pray my daughter sees in me isn’t a man who never messes up—but a man who, when he does, turns back to God in repentance. A man who leans on grace, not on his own strength.

Lord, forgive me for the ways I fail to trust You. Help me break sinful patterns so that my daughter inherits a legacy of faith, not fear. May she see Your faithfulness in my life and learn to trust You above all else. Amen.