Godly fathers-ungodly sons-12

Abraham is a very important person in the future nation of Israel and of most other nations. Just as God promised many years earlier, Abraham would be the father of many nations. Even Islam makes reverential references to him. Abraham is also a lesson is how obedience leads to faithfulness and trust in God, which is also an element of our sanctification.

Genesis 20:1  Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar. 20:2  Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 

Did Abraham’s faith in God include his own personal safety? What about God’s continual reminder to Abraham of Abraham being the father of many nations? It doesn’t seem to have made a great difference in his life as of yet. He once again justified calling Sarah his sister and then watching her being taken from him. What did Sarah think of all of his concerns for himself and lack of concern for her?

But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married." 20:4  Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless? 20:5  "Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this." 20:6  Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 20:7  "Now therefore, restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." 

God, of course, had not forgotten anything. Yet, He still protected Sarah and Abraham even when he failed to protect Sarah.

20:8  So Abimelech arose early in the morning and called all his servants and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened. 20:9  Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done." 20:10  And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?" 

Apparently Abraham thought he was not in a god-fearing nation. We do not have any indication if Abraham prayed about any of this. But, a ‘pagan’ king had to reprimand Abraham.

20:11  Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 20:12  "Besides, she actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife; 20:13  and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" 

Here we read about Abraham rationalizing his sin. He even convinced Sarah to protect him, even after all that God had promised to him.

20:14  Abimelech then took sheep and oxen and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him. 20:15  Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please." 20:16  To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared." 20:17  Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.  20:18  For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. 

How is Abraham like us or how are we like him? So far, Abraham profited from both situations involving Sarah. But, Sarah was loosing faith in his headship and authority over her. Also, she would appear to be loosing faith in God’s promise of a son.

What promises of God to us have we truly failed to believe? We, like Abraham, must have our faith tested. We rarely come to a full and uncontested faith in God at the moment of salvation. Faith, like sanctification builds over time. God’s mercy and patience with Abraham and us is amazing.

More next Saturday.