Genesis 23

Sarah dies and Abraham prepares for her burial. 

After a long blessed life, Sarah dies. Abraham comes to mourn for her, but he wants a proper place for her body to rest that is far from his own sight. He doesn't want to be daily reminded of her death and how much he misses her. We are to do well in our own lives if we put our sorrows and sins out of our sight and only look to them so that we remember God's blessings, and remember our sins long enough to not commit them a second time. 

Abraham comes to the people of  Heth to purchase a burying place for Sarah. Abraham was a herdsman and shepherd, so he no doubt had dealings with these people time and again and sold live stock with them. So the children of Heth were happy to just give the land Abraham wanted to him. Abraham wouldn't have it that way and made sure that in front of witnesses he paid for the land. They knew that Abraham was good for the money, but he insisted it was paid for then. There is a lesson here for us as well. Matthew Poole suggests that we are not to ever be indebted people in this world because they may want something from us in return in the future that is against our beliefs. It is better to only have what you can pay for at the time and let God take care of you.

The land is described beautifully in this chapter, and no doubt, that beauty will not compare to the resting place Christ has gone to prepare for us. 

Genesis 21

Isaac is Born

Sarah conceives a son just as the Lord had promised. It truly is a miracle for Sarah is well past child bearing age. This goes along with our faith in Jesus Christ. We were dead in sin with no hope of new life until Jesus made a sacrifice on the cross that gave us life where none before existed. It says that the Lord visited her, just as he visits us to draw us out of sin and into his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him). 

They called him Isaac which means laughter. Abraham and Sarah both laughed when it came to believing God and his promise, but now they laugh with a joy and unbelief of God's mercy. So there is this time of joy and reaping that we will all enjoy from time to time. The season, as all of life is, is just passing though. It is not long before strife comes to the tents of Abraham. Ishmael mocks Isaac and Sarah sees it. It seems that Ishmael is not old enough to come to this understanding on his own, and he had some encouragement from Hagar; we don't know this for certain, but it seems likely. 

Sarah wants Hagar and Ishmael gone from there presence. God tells Abraham to go ahead and send Ishmael out of the camp, but make no mistake, they are still paying for past sins. After Hagar and the child are cast out, God remembers his covenant with Abraham about his seed, even though Ishmael was not the one God had originally meant when he created the covenant with Abraham. God looks after Hagar and promises that Ishmael will become a great nation. 

Some time passes and we encounter Abimelech again. He wants what we would now call an alliance or peace treaty with Abraham. Abimelech knows that God had blessed Abraham and that Abraham is growing in God's blessings. It doesn't hurt that Abimelech been warned of God in the past about Abraham when Abimelech took Sarah. After Abraham corrects Abimelech about a fight at a well, they enter into their alliance. We would do well to make friends and bonds with all of God's faithful servants. 

Genesis 20

Genesis chapter 20

Abraham picks up and moves south. The only reason given for this is that 'God caused me to wander'. We know that we will do a some 'wandering' of our own in this life. The geographic location we are in does not have any baring on our relationship with our savior. Our communion with God is done in our hearts and on our knees in prayer, not in a certain place. God is still God no matter where we are or what condition we are in and he can and does answer prayers no matter what.

When they come to the land of Gerar, Abimelech the king takes Sarah. Even that this advanced age it appears that she is still very beautiful. Unfortunately this is familiar territory for Abraham, having been in this situation with Pharaoh in Egypt. When Abraham was in a strange place he would tell Sarah to tell anyone they ran into that they were brother and sisters. This was a fact and not a lie because Abraham and Sarah had the same father, just not the same mother. He did this so that they would not kill Abraham and take Sarah all to themselves. I commented earlier that this does show a lack of faith on Abraham's part. In an evil land with evil leaders, you can see what he is trying to accomplish, but we need to go and let God work out the details.

God wastes no time in protecting his own people and the covenant that he has promised both Abraham, Sarah, and all of mankind. He visits Abimelech in a dream and tells him in no uncertain terms that he is a dead man for what he has done. Abimelech pleads with God and tells him he has not touched the woman and only took her because he was somewhat mislead by Abraham. God puts a plague on Abimelech and all his house that they won't reproduce until all is returned. Abimelech doesn't harden his heart like the Pharaoh many years later in his dealings with Moses.

Abimelech not only gives Sarah back, but gives silver and riches as well. Abraham prays for Abimelech and his household and the Lord lifts the curse. When we encounter troubles, we out to be quick to seek forgiveness and restore anything to our brothers and sisters that we have taken unjustly or even by accident; so that the Lord will bless our Christian life.

Genesis 18

Genesis chapter 18

We have in this chapter one of the rare cases that the Lord himself walked on the earth in the Old Testament. He came down to deliver a message to Abraham and deliver justice to Sodom and Gomorrah. News sometimes comes in life just as it does here in this chapter. News comes and it is good, but also there is bad news. We know that Abraham waited all his life for the news of a son of his own with Sarah, but we know he also didn't want to hear the news about the city in which Lot lived.

Abraham greats these 'strangers' like we should greet all those that we have the opportunity to show graciousness too. He kills the fat calf, and prepares the best possible meal and wants to do his best for these new guests. I believe if Abraham did not know exactly who it was in his midst, he had a good idea. Oh, that we would always be ready when the Lord might appear.

After sitting down to eat the news comes quickly that God will grant Abraham and Sarah their son. The news catches Sarah off guard and she laughs within herself. God knows our innermost thoughts and feelings, and there is no need to try and hide or deny them from him; he knows.

As the meal is over the guests get up to leave and head to Sodom. The Lord asks his companions if he should keep hidden the reason they are going to Sodom. God knows our hearts, he knows are pleas, and just as he loved us, he also knows who we love. Our Savior knows when we have deep feelings for someone, and therefore many times Christ will hear our plea for them. Christ knew that Abraham loved his nephew and their family. Jesus knew that there were those in those cities that Abraham had dealings with and would want to spare their lives if he could at all help.

The other two people go on but Christ stays to talk with Abraham and tell him all about their mission that evening. Abraham pleads that the city might be spared if fifty are found righteous and the Lord agrees. Abraham has doubts that there might be that many down there that are righteous so he pleads with the Lord till he gets to only ten righteous and the Lord mercifully agrees. The Lord knows there are only five, but he still hears the cries of his servant. Though our petitions are not always answer, have faith that our Lord and Savior hears them all.

Genesis 17

Genesis chapter 17

As Abram gets into his nineties, God has not forgotten him and he renews his covenant with him. Notice that God tells him to be perfect. We know that Abram has sinned, and is not perfect, but God instructs him, and I believe us also, to be perfect. We are not to be perfect by our own might, but by his. We will most likely never be perfect down here, but whatever sin we may have in our past, we are to seek forgiveness, then seek to be without sin through Jesus Christ.

Now with the renewing of this covenant, God gives Abram the new name of Abraham which means Father of many or a multitude. God reminds Abraham that this covenant is forever and it will be everything that God has promised it would be. With this covenant that was up until this point by faith, God will also have his covenant with Abraham be a physical one as well. Not outwardly, but real and permanent. Isn't this the covenant we have in our hearts with Salvation? Our continence might change, but our outward physical appearance doesn't alter; just the heart.

God is going to change Sarai's name to Sarah. She will bear children and Abraham laughs in his heart at this idea. He knows that Sarah is just as old as him and he doesn't see it happening. Let us all remember that just as God reminds Abraham the inheritance will INDEED come from Sarah's womb, that God's ways are not our ways and he will bring what he promises to pass whether we think it possible or not. God goes so far as to tell Abraham when this child will come and what his name will be. God is specific with our purpose in life.

So Abraham goes and does as God commands and circumcises his entire household, servants and all. Let us all try and be thorough with what God would have us do with and in our lives.