Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 12:17-20 (New Living Translation)

17 But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram and accused him sharply. “What have you done to me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ and allow me to take her as my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and get out of here!” 20 Pharaoh ordered some of his men to escort them, and he sent Abram out of the country, along with his wife and all his possessions.

Notice how Pharaoh was scared to death at the thought of having taken Abram’s wife. Notice how Pharaoh associate terrible plagues with how close he and his people came to taking Abram’s wife.

This all happened long before the Ten Commandments and the rest of The Law given in the Old Testament.

All people in all places at all times knew there was a code of behavior for people. Part of the code was that you didn’t take another person’s spouse.  What happened to that code of behavior. When did modern man, or post-post-post-modern or whatever we call ourselves man, forget this? And what are the consequences we suffer every day?