Abram , now known as Abraham, again journeys to Negeb and lives there. When arriving at Gerar, Abraham introduces Sarah to the people as his sister instead of his wife, where Abimelech the King of Gerar takes Sarah to be his wife (Genesis 20:2). Remember back in day 7 I said that we would come across this decision due to a lack of faith in the promises of God again Genesis 12:10-20)? Here we are. God again intervenes and, in a dream, tells Abimelech that Sarah already has a husband, and that he would die unless he returns Sarah to Abraham, who would then pray to God for Abimelech (Genesis 20:3-7).
It should be noted here that Abimelech had never touched Sarah, meaning they never had intercourse. If they had, then Sarah potentially would have carried Abimelech’s child. But God intervened in order to once again ensure that His promises were fulfilled. Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham the next morning, asking why Abraham did this. Abraham responded that there was no fear of God in the place, and he was afraid he would be killed because of Sarah. After this discussion Abimelech gives Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female servants, and a thousand gold pieces so that everyone would know that Sarah was innocent. Abrham then prays to God, and God heals Abimelech, his female servants, and his wife so that all could bear children because they were barren because of Sarah being in the house of Abimelech (Genesis 20:8-18).
We now move to the blessed day where God visits Sarah and she conceives. Sarah gives birth to Isaac the promised son that God foretold would be the bearer of Abraham’s offspring. Abraham is now 100 years old. Remember how I said Isaac’s name means “he laughs”. Sarah now says, “God made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me (Genesis 21:6)”. Remember that both Abraham and Sarah laughed when Isaac was promised to them. And Sarah denied the laughter (Genesis 18:15). It is also worthy of note how Abraham kept the covenant with God and circumcised Issac at eight days old per the covenant with God (Genesis 20:4; Genesis 17:12-13).
As one would expect, as Isaac and Ishmael grew, tensions grew as well. On Issac’s birthday after he had been weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar, laughing (possibly meaning mocking) during the feast. Sarah told Abraham to cast out Ishmael and Hagar so Ishmael would not be an heir along with Isaac. This bothered Abraham. God reassured Abraham, and to do whatever Sarah said. Abraham’s name would be passed on through the offspring of Isaac. God tells Abraham that through Ishmael there would be a great nation as well because of Abraham (Genesis 21:8-13).
The next morning Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael out with bread and a skin of water, and she set off to the wilderness of Beersheba. When the water was gone, she placed Ishmael under a bush and went a distance away so that she would not see Ishmael die. But God heard Ishmael and an angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar. The angel comforts Hagar and reminds her that a great nation will come through Ishmael. At that point, the Lord opened her eyes to see a well of water. Genesis tells us that God was with Ishmael, and he grew in the wilderness, and was an expert bows man (Genesis 21: 15-21).
At this point, we learn that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army go to Abraham. They tell him that they are aware that God is with Abraham in all he does. They ask for a treaty that Abraham will not deal with them in a false manner and treat them with kindness as they have treated Abraham. Abraham swears to do this. But then accuses Abimelech in relation to a well that was seized by Abimelech’s servants. Abimelech replies that he knew nothing of this before Abraham told him of it that day. At this Abraham took sheep and oxen and game them to Abimelech but took seven ewe lambs and set them apart. Abimelech asked Abraham why he did this. Abraham responds that “These seven lambs you will take from my hand that this may be a witness for me that I have dug this well” (Genesis 21:30). By taking the lambs, Abimelech is acknowledging Abraham’s owns the well. This was at Beersheba where Abraham called on the Lord, after which Genesis records Abraham journeyed in the lands of the Philistines.
Here we read about the testing of Abraham. It must be clarified however that testing does not mean that God tempted Abraham to do anything evil. When God tests an individual. it is to test their commitment to God, or in other words the level of their devotion to Him.
God commands Abraham to take Isaac and go to the land of Moriah and prepare offer Isaac as a burnt offering. The Lord refers to Isaac as Abraham’s “only son whom you love” (Genesis :2). This had to have a huge impact on Abraham in being asked to do this. The questions that must have been on his mind. But he prepared and set off to do as he was asked. On the third day, they arrived in the land, and Abraham told his servant men to wait while he and Isaac alone traveled on to present the burnt offering and worship God. Here we should note that Abraham said, “I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you” (Genesis 22: 5) Abraham, while he still must have had questions going through his head, had faith to believe that in the end both he and Isaac would return to them men. As they travel further Isaac asks a revealing question “where is the lamb for the burnt offering”. Note Abraham’s answer. “God will provide for Himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). While it is unclear if at that moment Abraham believed a substitute would be provided for Isaac, it is clear that he is expressing faith that God would preserve Isaac.
Abraham builds the altar, lays the wood, binds Isaac, and takes the knife to slaughter him. I should note that it only states Abraham took the knife. Many pictures will show images of Abraham with the knife raised over Isaac as if to strike. We do not know this though. Only that he took the knife. It is at the point of taking the knife that an angel of the Lord stops Abraham saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him for now I know that you fear God seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son from me” (Genesis 22:12). Hearing this Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw a ram caught in a thicket. As a father, I can only imagine this moment. I do not know what was going through Abraham’s mind, but in a moment like this there would be only one reason my eyes would be downward…lost in prayer asking for this moment to pass by while being fully committed to the will of God. And lifting his eyes I can imagine the elation that God did provide a substitute as he told Isaac.
We have a substitute sacrifice for our sin that this story foreshadows. According to John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” God led his only son whom He loved to the cross to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 adds to the wonder of this saying “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” While I committed a litany of sins, Christ died for me. Before I even knew I needed the sacrifice that was given for me. What a incredible, merciful, gracious, forgiving God we serve through Jesus Christ!
Back to our story, we find that after sacrificing the ram and calling the place “The Lord will provide”, the angel again appears to Abraham promising to provide offspring through Isaac who will number as the stars in the sky and the sands on the seashore. Furthermore, the angel states, “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed because you have obeyed my voice”.
As Christians, we believe that this refers to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Revelations 1:5 reads, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the One loving us and releasing us from our sins through His blood,” and Galatians 3:16 reads “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say “and to seeds” as of many but “and to your seed” as of One, who is Christ.” Christ our King is the culmination of all the promises that were passed from Abraham through Isaac and his offspring. So even in the days of Abraham, we are getting incredible glimpses of our glorious King!
Now we get to the genealogies of Nahor, make special note of Bethuel who fathered Rebekah. They will come up later.
Now we learn that Sarah dies at the age of 127 in the land of Canaan. Here we recognize that the Hittite people recognize Abraham as a wanderer and a “prince of God”, indicating they were well aware of Abraham’s special relationship to God. Abraham insists on buying a piece of land with a cave to bury his beloved wife, Sarah. (Genesis 23).
My Bible Journey In A Year (Chronological) 