God's Inexplicable Love and Protection
Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev . . . and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelek 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." . . . Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. . . .
Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials . . . And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" Abraham replied, "I said to myself, "There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife,"
. . . And 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."
Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." . . .
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and female slaves so they could have children again, for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. Genesis 20:1-17
Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials . . . And Abimelek asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" Abraham replied, "I said to myself, "There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife,"
. . . And 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."
Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." . . .
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and female slaves so they could have children again, for the LORD had kept all the women in Abimelek's household from conceiving because of Abraham's wife Sarah. Genesis 20:1-17
Abraham had repeated the half-truth that Sarah was his sister with the justification that she was her father's daughter by a different mother. He worked out an agreement with Sarah to go along with that half-truth as a way of demonstrating her love to protect Abraham. Again, Abraham created a huge mess but God protected him and kept Abimelek from violating Sarah.
God's words of confrontation to Abimelek were very strong: "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken . . . Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live."
Abraham prayed for Abimelek and all the curse on his household was reversed and his life was spared.
The compassion, love, and protection of God is simply beyond measure. He spared Abimelek out of compassion. Beyond that, however, is the amazing protection and love he covered Abraham and Sarah with. Abraham created a mess by lying but God understood his human fears and jealously guarded, protected and blessed him.
I wonder if we really understand the extent of God's love and protection for His children. God looks beyond our faults and sees our need for grace and mercy. Would you take a moment to thank God that he does not deal with us as our sins deserve; for where sin abounds, grace abounds even more! God's love and protection are inexplicable!
God's words of confrontation to Abimelek were very strong: "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken . . . Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live."
Abraham prayed for Abimelek and all the curse on his household was reversed and his life was spared.
The compassion, love, and protection of God is simply beyond measure. He spared Abimelek out of compassion. Beyond that, however, is the amazing protection and love he covered Abraham and Sarah with. Abraham created a mess by lying but God understood his human fears and jealously guarded, protected and blessed him.
I wonder if we really understand the extent of God's love and protection for His children. God looks beyond our faults and sees our need for grace and mercy. Would you take a moment to thank God that he does not deal with us as our sins deserve; for where sin abounds, grace abounds even more! God's love and protection are inexplicable!
Prayer: Father, I thank you for your inexplicable love and protection. Amen