"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "Abraham and Abimelech"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 20:1-17
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 20:14 "Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him."
As this Chapter opens, we are now back to Abraham. We see that once again, Abraham's faith wanes, and he again lies about his relationship with Sarah, and is protected by God. Abraham comes into the city of Gerar, and said that Sarah was his sister, and Abimelech, king of Gerar when hearing this takes Sarah . This action puts Sarah in the king's harem, but not into his bed. It could assumed, that because of Sarah's age that she was desired for her wealth, and not her physical appearance.
We will note that that Abimelech, was a pagan king, yet the Almighty God warned him in a dream, of the wrong that he was going to commit. Abimelech was in a dream state, and told God that he had not touched Sarah, and his actions were innocent, and were the result of what Abraham had told him about Sarah. God's response was of grace to him. God told him, that He had kept the king from touching Sarah.
In verse 7, we see the word prophet for the first time. Abraham's relationship to God was the basis for God's command that Sarah be restored to him. The seriousness of the situation touched the king strongly, that his fear quickly spread to those around him. Abimelechs says to Abraham,
"What have you done to us?" and is followed by "how have I offended you?"
Abraham, in verses 11-13 gives to the king two reasons for his actions: (1) he assumed that he was in hostile territory, and they feared not the Lord and (2) Sarah was truly his sister. Later the law would prohibit the marriage of people so closely related.
We then see that Abimelech makes a big payment to Abraham in order to vindicate, and settle the dispute. In verse 17 we see that Abraham prayed to God and the situation ended in mercy with Abraham acting as a priest before the true and living God. We also see that God healed Abimelech, and his household, and now his wife, and servants were able to bear children.
This Chapter ends with irony. Because God's desire to protect Sarah, He had closed the wombs of the kings household. But now God had reopened there wombs and we will see in our next study that the Lord would soon open up Sarah's womb to give her a child as promised by the Almighty God even after she was too old to conceive.
Today's Question and Closing Comment: Do we as Christians lack faith in trusting God in all aspects of our life's? In this chapter, we saw once again that lack of faith of Abraham for the second time when coming into a new country. We see that God, is always in control of the situation, and all we need to do as Christians, is to have total faith and trust in God, and give our fears to Him, knowing that our Almighty and Powerful God, will direct us and keep us safe in His arms.
Through all the trails that we face, Lord, You have given me so much grace
Faithful and true in every way, Holy and awesome is your name
You are the Lord, Lord of my life
I will forever praise Your Name
You are the Lord, Lord of my life,
I will forever praise Your Name
Heavenly Father, In our daily walk with you, we ask that you grant us the faith and trust to know, that You will do what is best for us as your children, and that as we walk with you, we will give you our all in serving You.
Amen
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day and Love God more Today.
Yours in Christ,
Cindi
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