We start week 6 in Genesis 20-23. Today’s notes:
Genesis 20:1-3 (NIV)
1Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.3But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
I’d mentioned this in a previous post on Genesis in this current Bible in a Year study I’ve been doing, but I’m kind of amazed seeing the seeming fluctuations of Abraham’s faith, at least as evidenced by his decisions. He has faith to believe God’s promise and leaves everything he knows, but shortly thereafter claims his wife as his sister to save their skin when they enter another land. We see it again here.
I still don’t get it, even when we see the explanation later…
Genesis 20:11-13 (NIV)
11Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ‘ “
Again, if he had faith enough to trust that God would provide everything necessary for him to become the Father of many nations, I just don’t get why Abraham wouldn’t believe that God is big enough to protect him in these lands.
It makes even less sense to me when I see the leap of faith he’s about to take…
Genesis 22:1-12 (NIV)
1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he replied.
2Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
3Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Interesting, isn’t it? Abraham can demonstrate such faith and trust in God… far beyond anything most of us could muster. Yet even his faith seemed to wax and wane.
In a lot of ways, that’s very comforting to know.
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