The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 20:1-3,
"Now Abraham moved on from there [Mamre] into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, 'She is my sister.' Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, 'You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.'"
What a fascinating account!
I wonder how much time elapsed between verses 2 and 3? Was it just a day? A couple of weeks? How much time passed between Sarah being taken and the Lord confronting Abimelek? In the dream, as Abimelek maintained his innocence in the matter, the Lord explained to Abimelek that he had kept him from touching Sarah, verse 6. There must have been at least enough time for that. The reason I wonder about it is that I am quite certain Abraham was on his knees to the Lord, fretting all the while about what was happening. You'll see why I wonder about this in just a bit.
We read of Abraham's explanation of himself to Abimelek when Abimelek confronted Abraham about the ruse in representing Sarah as his sister when he moved to Gerar, "When God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" Verse 13. (Sarah was a very beautiful woman and Abraham feared his life might be taken in order for someone else to take her.) This the couple apparently did everywhere they went. (It may be this is the very passage Peter had in mind in his observation of Sarah as the model of an obedient wife, 1 Peter 3:6.)
I can't help but think of the contrast between Abraham and Abimelek in all this. Abraham continued to use this deception about Sarah being his sister even though God had already promised him that Sarah would give him a son. Isaac is not yet born, so Abraham really had no need to use this ruse. On the other hand, Abimelek, after having the Lord visit him in a dream, feared the Lord greatly. "Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid." Verse 8. Abimelek handled the situation very appropriately (of course, under threat from the Lord).
From my question above, about the length of time between Sarah being taken, and the Lord's confrontation with Abimelek, was the Lord using this entire episode to build Abraham's faith? I wonder if Abraham continued to use the ruse of Sarah being his sister following this event, knowing of God's intentions for him?
What a fascinating account!
I wonder how much time elapsed between verses 2 and 3? Was it just a day? A couple of weeks? How much time passed between Sarah being taken and the Lord confronting Abimelek? In the dream, as Abimelek maintained his innocence in the matter, the Lord explained to Abimelek that he had kept him from touching Sarah, verse 6. There must have been at least enough time for that. The reason I wonder about it is that I am quite certain Abraham was on his knees to the Lord, fretting all the while about what was happening. You'll see why I wonder about this in just a bit.
We read of Abraham's explanation of himself to Abimelek when Abimelek confronted Abraham about the ruse in representing Sarah as his sister when he moved to Gerar, "When God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'" Verse 13. (Sarah was a very beautiful woman and Abraham feared his life might be taken in order for someone else to take her.) This the couple apparently did everywhere they went. (It may be this is the very passage Peter had in mind in his observation of Sarah as the model of an obedient wife, 1 Peter 3:6.)
I can't help but think of the contrast between Abraham and Abimelek in all this. Abraham continued to use this deception about Sarah being his sister even though God had already promised him that Sarah would give him a son. Isaac is not yet born, so Abraham really had no need to use this ruse. On the other hand, Abimelek, after having the Lord visit him in a dream, feared the Lord greatly. "Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid." Verse 8. Abimelek handled the situation very appropriately (of course, under threat from the Lord).
From my question above, about the length of time between Sarah being taken, and the Lord's confrontation with Abimelek, was the Lord using this entire episode to build Abraham's faith? I wonder if Abraham continued to use the ruse of Sarah being his sister following this event, knowing of God's intentions for him?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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