Reading Genesis tonight these verses jumped out to me.
The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”
Genesis 18:13-15 ESV
I read this over and over until I could see God’s light cutting through the darkness: “He said, “No, but you did laugh.””
“No, but you did laugh.”
Here, God heard Sarah’s laugh although she laughed to herself. And God called her out for lying.
Sarah was afraid, and thus she lied. Well who would have thought that by fear of God we end up being even more offensive to God! What a terrible trap a person can put himself in.
Yet, read the verses again, and see how much freedom there is from the bondage of lies and denials when we know that God reveals all deep and hidden things, He knows what is in the darkness, “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind…” (Jeremiah 17:10 ESV).
I cannot hide anything from God. Such freedom!
Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
Psalm 26:2-4 ESV