Genesis 18:13-15
“Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, ‘I did not laugh.’ But he said, ‘Yes, you did laugh.’”
No one has to be taught to lie to protect themselves. Isn’t it remarkable that, almost as soon as children learn to talk, they start exploring the ways their words can get them into – and out of – trouble. Did you eat a cookie? No, says the child innocently despite the crumbs and melted chocolate all over his face and hands. Did you color on the walls? No, says the child hiding the crayon behind her back. Our instinct is for self-preservation, whatever the cost. It takes time to learn to value the truth, even when it forces us to accept the consequences of our actions.
In Genesis 18, Abraham and Sarah are literally hosting messengers from God in their house, which would admittedly be a daunting situation for anyone. It seems like the news is all good, though somewhat hard to believe. For Sarah to laugh at the idea that she would finally have a baby in her old age seems like a natural response. Her initial action isn’t so bad. But when asked about it, she’s afraid of the consequences and her instinct is to lie and say she didn’t.
The messenger values truth and calls her on it. I don’t know if his voice was strict and firm or kind and reassuring but he does not allow the lie to stand. Fortunately for Sarah, there don’t seem to be lasting consequences. The lie was spoken but immediately exposed and replaced with truth.
Sure enough, before long Sarah is cradling a baby boy in her arms. Clearly her encounter with the messenger and what she learned about truth remain with her. For the rest of her life, Isaac will remind her of the value of truth. Isaac means laughter. Instead of trying to hide her laughter, she learns to celebrate it. “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’” (Gen. 21:6)
In this time of “alternative facts,” it sometimes feels as though truth has lost its value. Rest assured that it hasn’t. Whatever we see on television or in the halls of power, lies cannot be spoken and spun with impunity without ever being called to account.
It may seem so small and harmless. An extra cookie or a bit of crayon on the walls. Sarah lied about laughing. No harm done, right? All those little white lies that don’t seem to affect anyone, or even seem to be helpful…what could it hurt?
If we believe that truth has inherent value, then falsehood – however innocent it may seem – denies and diminishes its value. And when fear is what leads us there, we should definitely be careful. Does fear lead us in the right direction? Is fear worthy of leadership at all?
The lesson I take from Sarah’s seemingly trivial example is that God, the source of Truth, takes falsehood seriously, and that fear can so easily feed lies. I also see that I need to have two types of people around me: those who are willing to speak truth and expose lies immediately, and those who remind me to celebrate truth.
Fear lies to us and makes us into liars. But together we can love, value, and celebrate Truth.
Moment of Beauty
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Find the beauty in your life today by making a list of the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things (and people!) in your life. Take time to thank God for the people who help you expose lies and celebrate truth. Or, if you need people like this in your life, ask God to provide them.
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