Friday, January 8, 2016

Wouldn’t you think that Abraham would have learned his lesson when he went to Egypt during the famine and lied about Sarah to the pharaoh? But no, he had to lie to Abimelech and tell him that Sarah was his sister, getting in even more trouble. And then Abraham says that Sarah is his half-sister. Even though these words are in the canonized Scripture, they are Abraham's words. Remember, according to other documentation, Sarah is the daughter of Abraham's brother Haran. There is no Scriptural reference that document Sarah being his half sister...so is Abraham still lying?  Oh, what a tangled web we weave.....

As we journey through God's Word, we will find many instances when the great men of the Bible show flaws in character.  And yet they are still known as great men of faith.  We may demonstrate flaws in our character at times as well but we need to continue to strive for perfection because we know that God is with us.
2 Corinthians 13:11
 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 

God spoke to Abimelech telling him that Abraham was a prophet. Hmm...never quite thought of Abraham in that way before.  God tells Abimelech to give Sarah back to Abraham or else he and his household will die.  Later we see that this would have taken place when the wombs of the women were closed so that there would be no more descendants.  Abimelech returns Sarah to Abraham. Abraham prays and God opens the wombs of the women.

Finally Sarah conceives, after waiting 25 long years. What a great lesson for us to learn...to believe that God keeps His promises, no matter how long we must wait to see the fulfillment, or how slow God seems.
2 Peter 3:9a
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Claimed any of the Lord's promises today?

After Abraham and Abimelech settle the dispute over the well, "Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time".   God told him how much land He was going to give to his descendants, which  was extensive.  And all Abraham had to do was to walk the land, and yet...he stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Genesis 13:17
"Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."
At this point Abraham has yet to do that.  Even though Abraham was disobedient at times, God still honored His promises - not because Abraham was righteous - but because God is!






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