Connecting Scriptures:  Genesis 12:12-16, Genesis 11:29

We can all collectively say, “AGAIN?!”.  Yes and amen.  There are a few times where I know, without question, it was grace that chose Abraham.  Because this dude dealt with serious fear for his own life, even though God promised to bless him and make him a great nation.  It is obvious there there were parts of God’s convent that he believed whole heartedly.  But, there was a disconnect in understanding who God was and how it was God’s intention to care for Abraham.  Even as I type this though, I do the same thing.  I can know that God loves me and desires good for me, but I can freak out really easily in the moment when a surprise bill comes in the mail or I feel a new pain in my body.  Panic and self preservation are a result of the fall and a marker of indwelling sin that we have to deal with in this life.  It’s that struggle with the same sins that come knocking on our door, over and over.  This was just Abraham’s.  He had faith that God would give a son of promise and a land for his people to live in—but that was in the future.  He did not have faith that God would protect him, he had a harder time with the day to day faith.  If Abraham was given time to reason and contemplate God’s character to him, his Faithful love and all He had already shielded him from, perhaps he would have acted differently as he entered the land of Abimelech.  Fear makes you believe all sorts of “what-ifs”, forgetting all the ways “God is…”.

Like a shield, Abraham puts Sarah up for grabs.  This, the woman who would be the mother of his promised son?!  We also get to piece together, along with the connecting scriptures, that Sarah was his half sister.  So, in this half truth, we see Abraham back peddling when Abimelech questions his motives for deceit.  Mercifully, God intercedes on Sarah’s behalf (because we know Abraham wasn’t) and comes to Abimelech in a dream.  The encounter and ensuing disaster literally woke him up to the power of Abraham’s God.  So much so, that he gives Abraham gifts and a place to set up his tent.  He even goes so far as to give an offering to assure Abraham that he committed no sin with Sarah, the thousand pieces of silver acting as an atonement and assurance of good faith.  In response, Abraham prays for Abimelech’s house to be healed (even though it doesn’t mention that there was sickness, we can assume the same issues were seen there as were in Egypt from he last time this hijinks occurred), and it was allowed to flourish and multiply.  

However wonky the reasoning and foolish the actions, God has moved Abraham and Sarah to a new place, one where God’s promises were on the horizon line—ready to rise.

Questions for Reflection:

1.  How does this chapter display the importance of trusting God despite our fear?

2.  How does God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah, even when they are a mess and make mistakes, encourage you?