x+y=z is an equation that’s held back and kept many men (really all people) stuck in “holding” patterns - for years. Its the repeated reactions every time we hit the same set of circumstances. oday, Abraham helps switch up the math and break this cycle in our own lives.

Abraham’s (x) was Sarah his wife and his (y) was men he felt were more powerful than him. At least 2x in Genesis, Abraham was with Sarah (x), they encountered the powerful Pharaoh (king) of Egypt or pagan king of Gerar, Abimilech (y). Both times, Abraham did his (z) which for him was to lie. And that’s the equation right there! Whenever the right set of circumstance arose Abraham, the friend of God, lied:

x+y = z

The x,y,z terms of the equation change for us all, could be your x is money, cars, job opportunities…and your y could be fear of: embarrassment, missing out, meeting expectations…whatever we drop in as our x+y the result = negative z like behavior.

For Abraham it’s: Sarah is pretty + Pharaoh is more powerful = I better lie. He did it in Genesis 12:10-20 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”

Quick Observations

1. God Blinders: x+y=z misses, denies and silences the promise of God. In the same Genesis 12 chapter that Abraham did x+y=z, God also promised: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Yes it’s the same chapter. 

2. Inner Battle: Minimizing God in our heart, maximizes the problem in our own head. 3 times in Genesis God tells Abraham his plan (covenant) for his life, he hears it in his alone time with God but struggles to hear it when x+y come together.

3. Impact People: (1)His wife, Sarah, had to lie too and (2)Pharaoh’s house was afflicted with great plagues and (3)God was about to kill Abimelech (Genesis 20), because Abraham had a x+y=z equation.

4. Passing it On: The 1 that hits me & I think about most as a dad…Abraham’s son, Isaac carried out the same x+y=z pattern in Genesis 26.

Solution: Grip of this pattern woven throughout Abraham’s life remains until he aligns with what God says about him. Genesis 22:1-3 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose…

Abraham heard God’s instruction before, but finally with his son Isaac he aligns his behavior to what God’s been saying - for a while. Whether we’ve sat down & thought about it or not, we too have patterns. Like Abraham, we can choose to align our responses with our relationship with the Lord.

I invite you to read more about Abraham in Genesis 12, 20 and 26 this week. Where you see your own life in those pages, are great places to pray for God to break the x+y=z pattern in your own life because God is able to change the patterns of our lives.

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Grow in Grace!

Edward

P.S. Next Monday more on the x+y=z pattern…