The Influence

Scripture(s): Genesis 12:7-13

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.

Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you."

Commentary:
Abam forgot about what God had said to him because of the severe famine in the land, and he panicked and started making unwise decisions out of fear of what man would do to him. He asked his wife Sarai to join in on his lack of trust in God, and his fear of man; by having her lie about her identity. Abram's fear lead to his wife's agreeance to deceive others on his behalf.

Abram used is influence to sway the heart of his wife, by using the word please. It it clear that Sarai agreed to do what her husband said, because he feared for his life. However, Sarai now knew that she could use the influence of her beauty to get what she wanted as well. Therefore, both Abram and Sarai were in a position of authority to influence others positively or negatively. They chose the later.

Reflection:
It is important for us to remember what God has said to us personally in our private time alone with Him. When it is just He and us in our prayer closet. It is also important to write down what God speaks to us, so that we can recall His words when we are faced with the circumstanc...es of life, that seem to be much more than what they actually are. Once we make it a habit to write down what God has said, we can reflect on His promises to us; and use the ability to influence others for the purpose of building the kingdom of God.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for the authority and the ability to influence that you have given me, for the purposes of building your kingdom. I submit my will to you so that I will not misuse this authority, or misuse the influence that you have given me. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:  Genesis 12:13

Please: 4994
1) I (we) pray, now, please
a) used in entreaty or exhortation

Say: 559
1) to say, speak, utter

a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch

that you are my sister: 269
1) sister
a) sister (same parents)
b) half-sister (same father)
c) relative

1) (metaph) of Israel's and Judah"s relationship
d) beloved
1) bride
e) (fig.) of intimate connection
f) another

so that it may go well: 3190
1) to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad
a) (Qal)
1) to be glad, be joyful
2) to be well placed
3) to be well for, be well with, go well with
4) to be pleasing, be pleasing to
b) (Hiphil)
1) to make glad, rejoice
2) to do good to, deal well with
3) to do well, do thoroughly
4) to make a thing good or right or beautiful
5) to do well, do right
1) to be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad
a) (Qal)
1) to be glad, be joyful
2) to be well placed
3) to be well for, be well with, go well with
4) to be pleasing, be pleasing to
b) (Hiphil)
1) to make glad, rejoice
2) to do good to, deal well with
3) to do well, do thoroughly
4) to make a thing good or right or beautiful
5) to do well, do right

with me because: 5668
1) for the sake of, on account of, because of, in order to

of you, and that I may live: 2421
1) to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
a) (Qal)
1) to live
a) to have life
b) to continue in life, remain alive
c) to sustain life, to live on or upon
d) to live (prosperously)
2) to revive, be quickened
a) from sickness
b) from discouragement
c) from faintness
d) from death
b) (Piel)
1) to preserve alive, let live
2) to give life
3) to quicken, revive, refresh
a) to restore to life
b) to cause to grow
c) to restore
d) to revive
c) (Hiphil)

1) to preserve alive, let live
2) to quicken, revive
a) to restore (to health)
b) to revive
c) to restore to life

on account of you: 1558
1) on account of, for the sake of
 
References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Beginnings - Genesis 12 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 4 Jan 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=12&t=NASB
 
Higgins, S. (2009). The Influence. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com