Today’s passage: Genesis 20:1-18
Helpful thoughts:
- For a second time, Abraham fears a king and claims Sarah as a sister instead of his wife in hopes of saving his own skin.
- God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son together. From man’s perspective, this action put that at great risk.
- From God’s perspective, His promise was at no risk at all. But, Abimelech wasn’t going to enjoy all that came next.
- God chose to fulfill His promises to Abraham by His grace and unconditionally. Abraham was the one who sinned in today’s passage, but he was still God’s prophet and he would still be the father of this great nation.
- God is the hero of Abraham’s story…and ours.
- Abimelech’s generosity toward Abraham and Sarah served as a testimony of his and Sarah’s innocence. It needed to be known, if Sarah were to bear any children, they were not his!
- This will be critical knowledge in the next chapter.
Questions to consider:
- What is the irony of Abraham’s reason for concern in this region? Who feared (obeyed) God in this chapter? Who feared man more than God?
- Of what do these accounts of Abraham’s sin remind us? Was he perfect in righteousness? Did he win a spirituality contest to become the father of God’s chosen people? Where does every good gift come from (James 1:17)? Why can we have assurance of our eternal life and home with Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 1:6)?
- How does God display His power as the giver of life in today’s passage? If life is formed and forming in the womb, who put it there (Psalm 139:13-14)?