Abraham Stretches the Truth - God Keeps His Promises.

Genesis 20-21

Read Genesis 20:1-9

Summary of the Chapters

Abraham comes in contact with Abimelech and tells him that Sarah is his sister out of fear for his own life. Abimelech is told in a dream by God not to touch Sarah and to return her to Abraham. Abimelech tells God he did not know that she was Abraham's wife and he had not touched her. Abimelech confronts Abraham about his dishonesty. Abraham tells Abimelech that Sarah is his half sister and he was worried that Abimelech and his people would be Godless. Abimelech gives Abraham and Sarah great wealth and allows them to stay in his land. Abraham prays for Abimelech and God heals the barrenness that resulted from taking Sarah into his harem. Sarah gives birth to Isaac. Ishmael mocks Isaac and Sarah demands that he and Hagar be sent away. Abraham struggles with this until God tells him to do as Sarah has said and He would take care of Ishmael. Ishmael gets to the point of death and Hagar separates herself so she doesn't have to watch. She cries out and the Lord rescued them by revealing a well. Ishmael grew into an archer. He dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. His mother took a wife for him from Egypt, probably from his relatives. Abimelech comes to Abraham and asks him to promise to never deal falsely with him or his offspring. He called him to remember the kindness that he showed Abraham. Abraham swore to Abimelech, but then he informs him of a dispute that had come up about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. Abimelech assured Abraham that he did not know anything about that. Abraham gives animals to Abimelech and makes a covenant with him over the well. Abraham set 7 lambs by themselves and gave them to Abimelech as a sign that Abraham had dug that well. Abraham called the place Beersheba. Abraham plants a tree as a memorial and calls upon the name of the Lord, The Everlasting God.

Fear God Not Man

Abraham’s fear caused him to lie, He almost lost his wife, He almost caused Abimelech to be destroyed

When we fear man it causes us to do things we shouldn’t

If we fear God, we don’t need to fear man

Be Honest

If Abraham had been honest with Abimelech, he would have kept his wife and not taken a chance at loosing her and he wouldn’t have put Abimelech in danger or under a curse.

God would have protected Abraham if he had been honest with Abimelech

We must be honest as God’s children and ambassadors for His Kingdom.

We must be honest in our speech and how we live our lives.

God Keeps His Promises

God blessed Abimelech because he blessed Abraham. God provided the child of promise, Isaac. God took care of Ishmael.

We should remember the promises we have in Jesus Christ.

We should live as though we believe the promises.

If Possible, Be At Peace With All Men

Abraham was a man of peace, until it was time to be a warrior. He made treaties with his neighbors and lived a righteous man in a pagan land.

We should seek peace with our fellow man, especially our brethren.

We can live in the world and be separate from the world, but still be good citizens or pilgrims.