Again!?!
Genesis 20
The Story…
•V1 Abraham moves from
Kadesh (an area in the desert
of Shur) to Gerar –King
Abimelek’s land
•V2 Abraham tells Sarah, “If
Abimelech asks, tell him you
are my sister…” and Abimelech
is attracted to Sarah and sends
for her…
•V3 In a dream, God tells
Abimelech, “You are as good as
dead…”
V4 & 5 Abimelech’s response: “They lied and I have a clear
conscience!”
V6 – 8 God’s response, “Yes, I know…and I have kept you from sinning
against Me, I did not let you touch her…return her to her husband
because Abraham is a prophet and he will pray for you and you will
live. If not, justice will come and you and your family will die…”
V9 –10 Abimelech asks Abraham: a) What have you done to us?
b) How have I wronged you? You have brought such a great guilt upon
me (Abimelech) and my kingdom…You have done these things that
should never have been done!...
c) What was your reason for doing this?
V11 –13 Abraham rationalizes: a) You (Abimelech) do not fear God –
you’re a non-believer and b) you would have killed me to
take my wife and besides,
c) she really is my sister from another mother… I didn’t
really lie…
V14 – 16 Abimelech pays his “penance,” - To Abraham, he gave cattle,
sheep, slaves and returns Sarah to him. –To Sarah, he gave
1,000 shekels of silver (about a pound of silver) to cover his
offense to her. Then tells Abraham, “My land is before you;
live anywhere you want.”
V17 –18 Abraham prays for Abimelech and his household and God
healed his wife and his female slaves –God had closed their
wombs!
“The Lord was gracious to Sarah, and
kept His word. Sarah became
pregnant and gave birth to a son
(exactly the time God said she
would). Abraham and Sarah called
their son Isaac (meaning ‘laughter’).
Right after that… Genesis 21:1 & 2
3 Main Characters (People) in this story:
•Abimelech –an ungodly non-believer – God’s mercy
shown
Matt 5: 45 says, “…that you may be children of your
Father in heaven (grace). He causes His sun to rise
both on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and unrighteous.” (mercy)
Sarah
Hebrews 11: 11
“She considered Him Who made the promise
faithful…”
Abraham - definitely not perfect, but...
Hebrews 11: 10 - 16, “For he (Abraham) was looking
forward to the city with foundations whose
architect and builder is God…v13 They did not
receive the things promised; they only saw them
and welcomed them from a distance…they were
longing for a better country –a heavenly
one…therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God.”
Mean to us, what?...
•Everyone who is alive –breathes and has a heartbeat is
tasting His grace and mercy –the rain falls on both the
non-believer and believer…
•Sarah knew God was and remains faithful! She trusted Him
•Abraham did not “see the Promise Land” to claim … but he
looked forward – he anticipated God’s answers to his
prayers and promises
Within All of our hearts:
Path = Don’t want
Rocks = Hurts, feel “no
good”, think “can’t can’t
can’t”…
Thorns = Overwhelmed
Healthy ground = Whole
and Healthy soul
