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Read Genesis Chapters 20 and 21; then consider the following:

1. Incredible as it might seem, we see Abraham and Sarah caught in a lie once again. Why did Abraham do it? (see Gen. 20:11)
   1. ANSWER: Abraham was afraid and feared for his life. Rather than trust in God, he took things into his own hands and tried to protect himself by lying.
2. Lying appears to be a recurring theme with not only Abraham and Sarah, but their family as well. We observed it when Abram and Sarai were in Egypt, and we see it here again (see Gen. 20:12). We will encounter it again later with another Abimelech. Who lies that time? (see Gen. 26:1-11)
   1. ANSWER: In the Genesis 26 passage, we observe that Abraham’s and Sarah’s son, Isaac, also lies.
3. There is an interesting contrast between Abraham’s intercession with God for Sodom and Gomorrah and Abimelech’s question to God. How are they different? (see Gen. 18:23-32 and Gen. 20:4)
   1. ANSWER: Abraham asked God not to destroy the two cities if at least ten righteous people were found to be living in them. Abimelech asked God if He would "destroy and innocent nation".
4. Now looking at the birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7), how much time has passed since the Angel of the Lord visited Abraham, promised him that he would have son (at which Sarah laughed), and told him about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? (see Gen.18:10)
   1. ANSWER: It has been approximately one year. A lot happened in the course of that year, and yet God remained faithful to his promise that Sarah would give birth to a son. We know this timing because the verses in Genesis 21:1-7 indicate to us that Isaac was born "at the very time God had promised..."
5. Who gave Isaac his name, and what does it mean? (see Gen. 21:3)
   1. ANSWER: Abraham gave Isaac his name, and it means "he laughs".
6. Contrast the scene when the angels visited Abraham, vs. the scene when they visited Lot, specifically with respect to where they were each found sitting. (see Gen. 18:1-2, and Gen. 19:1)
   1. ANSWER: God told Abraham that He would make Ishmael a nation "because he is your offspring". Because Abraham was his father, God would make Ishmael a nation.
7. So Abraham drives Hagar and Ishmael from the camp with only limited food and water. When the supplies run out, Hagar distances herself from her teenage son by the distance "of a bowshot". Why, in their hour of need, did Hagar want to distance herself from her son? (see Gen. 21:15-16)
   1. ANSWER: She did this because she could not bear to hear her child cry or to see him suffer, since she had no hope or way to help him.
8. Why would Abimelech, who was a native of the land and the king, ask Abraham — an alien in the land — to swear an oath to him?
   1. ANSWER: Abimelech requested this because he saw that God was with Abraham in everything Abraham did; and he also saw that Abraham could be a deceitful person. (He lied about his wife being his sister, for example.) So, to ensure that Abraham was being honest and not drawing him unknowingly into a problem with God (as Abraham had almost done earlier), Abimelech asks for an oath from Abraham. This reinforces the fact that once we break someone’s trust, it is very difficult for that trust to ever be restored. We should act admirably and honestly in all of our dealings, so that, as followers of Christ, we can be trusted at our word at all times.
9. Why is the story of Abraham’s and Abimelech’s peace treaty important at this point of the narrative, just following the birth of Isaac? (see Gen. 21:22-34)
   1. ANSWER: It is important because it sets the stage for Abraham and his family to live in this place in peace for many years to come (see Gen. 21:34). It also lays the groundwork for the events that will follow in Chapter 22, when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only familial son, Isaac.

The importance of trusting God to work out His plan in our lives and in his timing is evident from our study of this lesson. Whenever we take things into our own hands, those plans never lead to success; and furthermore, they can have unintended consequences later in our lives. Abraham lied, and that one lie, that one deception, tarnished the good name that God had given him. Abraham became someone that King Abimalech would not trust at his word without an oath. It demonstrates to us just how critical it is to deal honestly and ethically with everyone at all times. One lapse of judgment can ruin our reputation for life.

Finally, we see that God’s plans are never thwarted, He will do as He wills. This can provide us great comfort in knowing that whatever God has promised to do, He will do it in His own perfect timing. We are assured that every promise God made in the Bible will be fulfilled by Him. We are saved through Christ, and God will redeem us through the shed blood of His Son Jesus, just as He has promised.

Let’s pray that God will keep our faith in Him strong so that we are able to wait patiently on the Lord and His will, as it is worked in our lives.

Thanks for studying with us this week.

In Christ,

Wes

[2010]

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