The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 14 -- God Chooses A People – Abimelech Adds To Abraham’s Riches & Sarah Gives Birth to Isaac

There is a saying that, “History repeats itself,” and another, “That doing the same thing again and again; but expecting a different result, is insanity.”  Once again, Abraham lies about Sarah being his sister; hiding the fact that she is his wife; allowing yet another ruler, Abimelech, to take her for his bride.  Maybe this was not insanity, because once again God intervenes; keeps Abimelech from sinning with her, as He did with Pharaoh, and threatens him with death.  As with Pharaoh, Abimelech releases Sarah; and lavishes Abraham with riches and sends them on their way. 

Genesis 20:14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and women servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

Abraham prays that God would heal Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; so that they could bare children; reversing the curse that the LORD put on them because of Sarah.  Twice Abraham lies about Sarah being his sister and hid that she was his wife because of fear of being killed by a power ruler; first with Pharaoh and then with Abimelech. 

Genesis 20:17-18 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.  (18)  For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Once again here is a great illustration that; faith is something that we develop over time.  Abraham didn’t start out as the pillar of faith.  He feared that men would kill him after the LORD had revealed His plan for Abraham.  How often we worry about things instead of trusting God?

The story continues with God fulfilling His promise to Sarah that she would bear a son and she did; Abraham being one hundred years old; and Sarah was 91.

Genesis 21:1-3 & 5 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.  (2)  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.  (3)  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.  (5) And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

Sarah wants Hagar and her son Ishmael sent away now that she has her own son, Isaac; and Abraham sends Hagar away.  Before Ishmael was born, Sarah treated Hagar so harshly that she fled into the wilderness.  At that time, the LORD promised Hagar that He would multiply her descendants beyond being numbered.  Here again, the LORD speaks to her and reaffirms that same promise and tells her that Ishmael will become a great nation and He provides her with water to save her life and her son.

Genesis 21:18-20 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.  (19)  And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.  (20)  And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

It seems that human beings have been the same down through the ages.  We are so quick to lose faith in front of adversity; even though we can look back at God’s mighty hand restoring us in the past.  We quickly get impatient when things don’t happen on our time schedule and exactly as we planned.  We forget that there is a God in heaven who has His plan for us and His time table.  We all need to step back, take a deep breath and allow God to work.  One common thread of the Bible, is God leading people to impasses so that He can deliver them.  Why?  Is God cruel or does He have a sadistic side?  Absolutely not!  God will lead or allow us to come to such impasses so that we can see the salvation of the LORD, even in the little things.  We need to have our eyes opened to see the marvelous works of the LORD, specifically in our own individual lives.  We need to stand still as Moses instructed Israel.

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Prayer:  LORD God, my Father, my Creator, Savior and Sustainer; fill me with hope and faith.  Remove all fear and fill me with your Holy Spirit;  trusting in you for protection and knowing that you will always rescue me and bless me with all that I need and desire, in Jesus’ name, Amen.