April 15, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 20 (NIV)
Abraham and Abimelek
1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.……Continue Reading
Genesis 20:6 “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.”
Woah. When I read that verse that gave me chills of God knowing all our hearts. It seemed for what the situation calls for here as bizarre as it is, Abimelech does have some justification for his reasoning. Just telling God, hey in fairness she said that was her brother and I’ve let her be. God was ahead of the curb here, already knew what the deal was. He honored God returning Abraham’s wife. The fear of God was certainly here after God came into Abimelechs dreams, even telling him he is indeed a dead man. But in closing passage, Abraham and Abimelech hash it out. Abraham prays for Abimelech. God being a God of mercy opened up the wombs of Abimelechs family members.
This is just as moving as the last few chapters of The Three Visitors and Sodoms destruction. Not only can we say Abimelech made the right choice, but rather more when God tells you to do something, you do it.
Genesis 20
My first thought was this already happened once and Abraham was corrected and now he again sends Sarah to another king saying she is his sister.
God has stepped in ahead of this right down to Abimelech dream showing him the deceit in Sarah being there and God making it so the king did not sin against him. Abimelech asked Abraham why? Saying ” he said to himself”.No fear of God here. He still justifies calling Sarah his sister. Because Abimelech had done no wrong God gave back there ability to have children. Seems Abraham benefited from what he did by receiving all these gifts and shekels of silver. I guess in differant ways we repeat sins also. So glad we have Jesus today and repentance available.
Great take away, Evan!
Genesis 10
Friends, I would expect God to have slapped Abraham right upside his head for repeating this same, stupid mistake twice.
Suppose God’s tolerance and mercy here, is the reason why God hasn’t cut me off at the knees for repeating sins over and over again. Amen, Oh Me! Stop playing with matches, something might burn down! -reb
Genesis 20
Evan, I concur. How would I feel if God spoke to me, and revealed my character before Him? God knows.
Spencer’s sermon asked the question, “who are you?” That struck me hard. As he explained, I went to Romans 7. I am who you see me as, and as much as I will ever let you see me. That is my reputation before men. That is the external facade. It is of little value.
But Romans 7 explains the real struggle going on inside me, sometimes outwardly visible, most of the time, completely unknown to those around me. It is a death struggle, wanting to do good, but perpetrating evil instead. Evil present, warring against my Spirit.
It need not be that way. Romans 6 depicts you and me after Christ. This is the inside that God sees, who I am when no one is around to see. Abimelech had this character, God saw it. Nathaniel had that character, under the fig tree. Jesus saw his character. Who we are in seclusion is the real “who I am.” Romans 6 is who we all really are in Jesus Christ. (All: not harping on Romans 6 exclusively, it just happens to contain the explicit doctrine of servitude to sin or righteousness. Virtually all the NT heralds a life to be lived free from sin., and how that is possible, and warranted.)
Seek to be Romans 6, the new man. Romans 7 is the old man. Peace, -reb
Amen Gordon!
Nothing but love for you, Reb, but I would have to offer a slight counterpoint. I do not believe that Romans 7 depicts the old man. Romans 6,7, and 8 all describe the life of a Christian. Paul uses the first person in Chapter 7, and I believe he does so intentionally. Because why Paul was certainly IN Christ, he was yet incarcerated in the flesh. Knowing this, Paul sets forth in Chapter 8 to exhort all believers to live by the Spirit.
The difference between the old man and the new man is found in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. The new man has life because he has been born again, through Christ’s atoning work of salvation. He is now, as Chapter 6 makes clear, a slave to righteousness. Because we know “you are not your own, you were bought with a price, so glorify God with your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20. The difference is who we belong to.
From C.S.Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters:
“And all the time the joke is that the word ‘Mine’ in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about anything. In the long run either Our Father (Satan) or the Enemy (God) will say ‘Mine’ of each thing that exists, and specially of each man. They will find out in the end, never fear, to whom their time, their souls, and their bodies really belong – certainly not to THEM, whatever happens.”
Because we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10), it is because we belong to God that we even seek to obey Him.
But in Chapter 7, Paul reminds every believer that while it is true we belong to God when we are in Christ, there is no cruise control to the Christian life. Jesus Christ has defeated the enemy, death, and the grave. But we still are wrapped in sinful flesh and must decide, every moment of every day to walk by the Spirit, and not by the flesh. Paul was no more immune to temptation and his flesh than any other believer. But Paul uses Chapter 6, 7, and 8 to exhort all believers towards the reality that we are called to obedience and equipped by Christ, through His Spirit, to obey…we are supernaturally indwelt by the power of the living God. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives life to our mortal bodies! (Romans 8:11). Paul never makes allowance for sin in the life of believer, but rather sounds the battle cry against it, encouraging us all to BE WHO WE ARE in Christ Jesus. He constantly calls his churches to walk worthy of the God they serve, and challenges them to examine themselves…2 Cor 13:15 serves as a serious call to ensure that our lives reflect the faith we profess to hold!
Of course, Reb, knowing you as I do…I am sure you probably agree with everything I wrote here…but I thank you for the opportunity to dive into it!
Grace and peace be with us all!
Good comments Evan. As always God knows everything including our thoughts. But in this passage God is speaking directly to an unbeliever { Abimelech} in a dream to not take Sarah for she is Abraham`s wife. I wonder how many times in scripture God has either talked directly to an unbeliever or through a dream. I am thinking not too many times. And I don`t mean by prophets or dreams interpreted by others. I think of Pontius Pilate`s wife and Abimelech. Was Cain an unbeliever for God spoke to him? I can`t think of any others but there might be. Of course I am not including all the times that Jesus spoke to unbelievers such as Saul who became Paul. God bless you all.
Just getting done with Nehemiah on Wednesday night study. I hope I’ll always remember in chapter 2 of Nehemiah. He is before the king. Already in discussion with the king. He stops before answering the king. And prays to God!!!!! If only. Abraham. Wait!! If only I !!!!!!
It really is a sad thing when the unbelievers in a Biblical account act better than the believers. We also see that Abraham made a wrong judgment, because there was fear of the Lord in that place. Just look at all the things Abimelech said and did because he feared God and regarded and blessed Abraham because of his fear of God. Fear often projects thoughts on things that are not really true. That is why it is important to focus on the truths we know from the Word when we confront fear so we live in a way that is best for everyone. It is also striking how quickly and strictly God intervenes in this situation to make sure Sarah remains pure. The thought that came to me is that God wanted to make sure there was no confusion about who Isaac’s father was. And so Abraham is blessed in spite of his misstep. May God orchestrate things for us with unbelievers that it is very obvious that God’s hand is upon us, and they are moved to action because they can’t help risking defying this God who has made Himself so evident. Let it just be because of our faith and obedience as opposed to what Abraham operates in here.
Genesis 20
In the past Abraham and Sarah try to intervene and make Gods promise happen, by having Abraham have a child through Hagar.
Now they jeopardize their relationship and potentially spoil the promise of God of a child through Sarah and Abraham (not Abimelech!).
It makes me think of all that faith and belief entails. God will do what He said He would do. That means Abraham, you are not going to be killed by a random king. Sarah is fortunate that God intervened for her. Abraham, you are not a very good protector. All these stories make me want to know what Sarah looks like! She’s 90…and a desirable bride! She must have been very beautiful.
Even over time it is so easy to slip back into sinful habits. Abraham has told this lie before! He finds himself once again in spot where he is afraid and tries to take the reins for God, which we know never ends well. Instead of trusting God to keep his family together, he decided to make his own way and jepordized God’s plan at the same time.
I love in this chapter God protects Abimelek as well. We assume God only protects those who follow Him, however, God stopped him even in his ignorance of the situation he had stumbled into from making this mess even worse by him sleeping with her. God had a promise and a plan for Sarah’s womb that would eventually lead to Jesus’ birth. God wanted there to be no confusion that He was in control of this so He prevented any other man getting her pregnant.
Genesis 20