Genesis 20-23 [the big picture]
Abimelech is the recipient of the same truth/lie about Sarah to protect himself. Hmmm….we’ll talk about that later. Side note: isn’t it interesting that Sarah was so desirable that these guys wanted to add them to the harem? Wasn’t she nearly 90 at this point? Guess you had to be there.
Isaac is born right on schedule. Much to Sarah’s surprise?! Why is it so hard to trust God? Can you relate?
Hagar and her son/Abraham’s son is still mucking things up in Sarah’s life. I wonder what Sarah learned from this. Better yet, are we learning from Sarah’s story that we need to stay in our lane? In other words, are we letting God do “God Stuff” (which includes leading us)? Are we doing the things that He’s asked us to do?
The BIG test! So as quickly as we judge Abraham for being so ridiculous about this wife/sister business that will ostensibly protect his life, we see that he passes this unthinkable test with flying colors. Seriously! Can you even imagine the agony felt in this 50-60 mile trip up to Mt. Moriah? Can you hear the conversation that would be going on in your head? You’ve certainly faced some difficult challenges, but I don’t know if anyone has faced this. Did you trust God all the way through? Abraham clearly did.
Sarah dies. You know, when I read this passage this week I was sad for Sarah and the few years she had to watch her long-awaited son grow up. But I was quickly reminded in my spirit, what a joy it was for her to spend every day for 37ish years thanking God for this gift. Perspective is everything! Contentment and gratitude versus wanting and being unsatisfied.
Protection
Through all of this reading the word that immediately jumped out to me, and may have to you, is protection.
God protected Abimelech and all of his household, big time!
God protected His name by following through with His promise to Abraham and Sarah. God ALWAYS follows through on His promises.
God protected Hagar and Ishmael when they were helpless. Romans 8:28
God protected Isaac and the future Israel on Moriah.
God protected Abraham’s reputation in a foreign land by continuing to prosper and humble him before other kings and leaders.
What can we learn?
The big lesson here is God protects. As a child of God, you can probably identify circumstances in your life where you know that God has intervened to keep you from something. I know that I have. God has protected my heart by often secluding me. He’s protected my mental and physical health. Psalm 91:4 [NLT] says “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” I immediately picture eagles when I read this verse. Those wings!!! Is anyone getting to the cargo this parent is protecting?? I don’t think so. Just imagine God’s wings of protection.
what can we do?
1. Thank God for His protection.
I really believe that there is much more going on that we don’t see or aren’t aware of. Luke 4:10
How can I be thankful? With your speech (whether to God or to others about God) acknowledge God’s constant protective presence in your life. Proverbs 2:8
2. Take advantage of His protection.
Psalm 30:5 “take refuge in Him.” That is an action on your part. What we see in Abrahams’s life is that when he protects himself (the “tell them you are my sister” scenario) things don’t go so well. As we talked about last week, there are many consequences that will be faced because of those decisions.
How? Psalm 141:8 David’s eyes were toward God. In other words, he was intentionally seeking and following God. When our eyes are toward God they are AWAY from everything else. Let that sink in and apply it to your situation. Are you looking to God for ____ or are you wound up in what people are thinking and saying? God clearly says that He protects those kids who are walking with Him. Psalm 41:10.
3. Join in the effort of His protection.
What do I mean by that? Let’s get real. We can either be part of the problem or part of the solution in others’ lives. We can create problems and trouble or we can help someone through it.
How? We can join God by loving others without judgment. By Speaking positively and lifting Up. Ephesians 4:29 We can be a “loved and trusted family member” by removing ourselves and/or others from potential trouble. We can protect by supporting the work that God is doing in our brothers’ and sister’s lives to transform all of us.