1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the South country and 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: dwelled between Kadesh and sure The sojourned in Ghararh Genesis 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: twenty one. Dear God, in the midst of my new season, 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: when I am afraid that I might not survive it, 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: I will not sacrifice the things close to me by 6 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: giving them up to try to preserve my position and life. 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: I declare that the same faith that brought me to 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: believe in You will be the same faith I used 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: to believe that you will protect me and deliver me 10 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: from any future threats. Thank you Jesus that because of 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: your sacrifice, I can be forgiven of my mistakes and 12 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: still have my future restored. When I come to you 13 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: with a pure and clean art holy spirit, like Abraham, 14 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: if there is any half truth in my life, reveal 15 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: it to me, then I will correct it. Give me 16 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: the strength to stand in integrity when it's easier to 17 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: do the opposite. I am blessed and secured in your presence. 18 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: Therefore I am free to be me and dwell in 19 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: the place You've given me with peace and prosperity. In 20 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: Jesus name, Amen, Thank you for praying with me to day. 21 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: Continue listening for an incredible Bible story brought to you 22 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: by Bible in a Year dot com. Abraham and Abimelech. 23 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: Before this story, we learned about how God brought justice 24 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: to Sodom Angomorrah and delivered Lot and his family out 25 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: of that city. But Lot's wife turned back and became 26 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: a pillar of salt. Now we will learn about Abraham 27 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: again saying Sarah is my sister to protect his own 28 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: life from King Abimelech. Inspired by the Book of Genesis, Hello, 29 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: I'm Pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 30 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: in a Year podcast. In our previous passage, we focused 31 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: on a Lot and his daughters and the results of 32 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: fear in their lives. Today we turn again to Abraham 33 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: and Sarah. Lest we imagine that Abraham has now fully 34 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: matured in his faith and has become immune to fear 35 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: and faithlessness. Today's story reminds us that often our journey 36 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: is one of highs and lows, of zigs and zags. 37 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: At times we trust and obey, at other times we 38 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: turn back to our sin and disobedience. That's where we 39 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: find Abraham today, once again encountering a powerful king whom 40 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: he appears to fear more than he fears God, the 41 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: God who has promised to be with him and bless 42 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: him only that. But again Abraham will show a lack 43 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: of regard for his wife. He is meant to lead 44 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: and protect his wife, but now he uses her as 45 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: a way to secure his own safety, to save his 46 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: own neck. As you listen, notice how Abimeleac is spared 47 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: from committing a sin that would have cost him dearly. 48 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: And notice how Abraham responds when confronted with his deceitfulness. 49 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: Does he repent of his wrongdoing and fully own up 50 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: to his mistake, or does he try to twist his 51 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: way out of it justifying his actions. Finally, watch how 52 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: God works through this situation to restore Abraham and Sarah, 53 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: as well as King Abimeleak and his household. Consider how 54 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: God has guarded you from sins you may have committed 55 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: in times of temptation had He not intervened. It is 56 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: a reminder of God's faithfulness to us always, even when 57 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: we fail to be faithful to him. Now, let's listen 58 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: to today's passage. Abraham and his wife Sarah ventured to 59 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: a new land where Abimelek was the king and ruled 60 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: over the people. When they had entered the land, Abraham 61 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: had once again claimed that Sarah was his sister, so 62 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: nobody would harm him to take her. Abimelek, being curious 63 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,359 Speaker 1: about Sarah, had her brought to his home since he 64 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: believed that she was Abraham's sister, Yet he did not 65 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: touch or harm her. One night, while Abimelek was asleep, 66 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 1: God came to him in a dream, saying, you are 67 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: a dead man because of the woman you have taken, 68 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: for she is a man's wife. Abimelek cried out in anguish, 69 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: knowing he had not touched Sarah. He cried, Lord, do 70 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: not kill an innocent man. Did he not himself say 71 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: to me that she is his sister? And she herself 72 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: said he is my brother. In the integrity of my 73 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: heart and the innocence of my hands, I have done this. 74 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: The Lord knew this and was the one who had 75 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: kept Abimelecht from touching her. He knew the integrity of 76 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 1: his heart and commanded him to approach Abraham for prayer 77 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: and returned Sarah to him. Yet God warned, if you 78 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: do not return her, you shall surely die. You and 79 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:31,559 Speaker 1: all those who are yours. Abimelech and all those under 80 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: him became afraid. The wombs of the women in his 81 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: household were shut and became baron. Terror filled a Bimelech's kingdom. Therefore, 82 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,799 Speaker 1: he wasted no time trying to find Abraham. He sought 83 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: out Abraham, and when he had arrived, demanded answers, what 84 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 1: have you done to us? You made me sin against you, 85 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: and now my kingdom is to be punished for it. 86 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: You should have never done this. Abraham, embarrassed and ashamed, 87 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: spoke a half truth, saying, Sarah and I share the 88 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: same father, but not the same mother, so she is 89 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: my sister. He continued, explaining, I did not take you 90 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: for god fearing people. I was afraid that you would 91 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: kill me to take her. Then Abimelech, both enraged and afraid, 92 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: took sheep, oxen, and servants and gave them to Abraham, 93 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: then returned Sarah to him. This is my land, he said, 94 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: dwell wherever you please. Then he turned to Sarah and said, 95 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: take a thousand pieces of silver for your brother. This 96 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: is proof that my hands are clean and you are free. 97 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 1: After another failure of character, Abraham was faced with his faithlessness, 98 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: not only did he betray his wife to protect himself, 99 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: but he put an entire kingdom in a place of sin. 100 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also 101 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 1: healed his wife and servants so they could bear children 102 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: once again. Even after another failure, God's promise to Abraham 103 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: would not be made void. He would still be faithful 104 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: and continue to bless him. Abraham and Lot, whose stories 105 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: we've heard in the previous chapters, are in many ways 106 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: contrasting characters. Abraham is often an example of wisdom and 107 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: faith and obedience to God's direction. Lot, on the other hand, 108 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: is rarely any of those things. As we have seen, 109 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: he acts with worldly wisdom and compromise, and reacts based 110 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: on fear not faith. They are indeed very different men. 111 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: This does not mean, however, that Abraham always moves in 112 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: the right direction, trusting God and acting wisely. Today we've 113 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: heard one such example. Fear has taken over Abraham once again, 114 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: just as he had done when they entered Egypt many 115 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: years before. Abraham is in a new land, the land 116 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: of a king whom he does not know and who 117 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: he fears greatly. King Abimelech. We're not told what the 118 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: basis of the fear is, only that Abraham hatches another 119 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: crazy scheme of deceit to protect himself. He tells everyone 120 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: that Sarah is his sister, not his wife. In other words, 121 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: she's available, so King Abimelech sends for her, and she's 122 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: brought to him. Before we get to what happens next, 123 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: I want you to think for a moment about what 124 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: this is saying about Abraham, that he would put forward 125 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: his wife to save his own skin. Year after year, 126 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: Abraham has seen God's strength and faithfulness to keep Abraham 127 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: and Sarah together and strong and safe. Not only that, 128 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: but God has repeatedly reaffirmed his promises to grant Abraham 129 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: a descendant through Sarah. If Abraham were to be killed 130 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: as he fears, that would mean God did not or 131 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: could not keep his promise. So think about it. What 132 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: Abraham is saying here with his action is that he 133 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 1: really doesn't trust God to deliver on his word now 134 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: less we judge him too quickly. How often do we, 135 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: by our own actions, say the same kind of things. 136 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: God has given us so much, and we have such 137 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: a wonderful promise of life, abundant life in him. And 138 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: yet so often with our actions we're willing to say 139 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: to show that we really don't trust God to give 140 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: us what we need, that God is not enough, that 141 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: his promises may not be true. So that's what Abraham 142 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: does here. But fortunately Abimeleac is spared from sin by 143 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: God himself, and because he appears to be a man 144 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: of some integrity before he touched Sarah. God appears to 145 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: Abimelech in a dream and tells him the true story. 146 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: This terrifies Abimelech, and he asks if God is going 147 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: to destry joy him for something he has not done. 148 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: God assures him that he knows the king's heart and 149 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: reveals that it was him who kept the king from sinning. 150 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 1: Look what he says to the king in Genesis twenty 151 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 1: verse six. Then God said to him in the dream, Yes, 152 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: I know that in the integrity of your heart you 153 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: have done this, and I also kept you from sinning 154 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 155 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: You see, God is not only active in the lives 156 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: of those who have received a special calling and blessing 157 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 1: like Abraham. Here we see that God is watching over 158 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: this king Abimelech, searching his heart and keeping him from sin. 159 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: God says he will spare him if he will return 160 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: Sarah immediately. Abimelac promptly does so, confronting Abraham for having 161 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 1: a lie to him, and rather than owning up to 162 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: his dishonesty and deceit and fully admitting that he was wrong, 163 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 1: Abraham tries to soften it by telling another lie. Sarah 164 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: is in no way his sister, but he is still 165 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: trying to save face with the King. We'll see many 166 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: times in scripture how someone is confronted with their sin, 167 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: and rather than openly admitting their fault and repenting, they 168 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: try to justify or explain their actions. This isn't true repentance, 169 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: and it's not what God wants. But once more, as 170 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 1: we've seen so many times already, and as we can 171 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: see vividly in our lives today, God is faithful to 172 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: Abraham in spite of his lack of faith. God restores 173 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: Sarah to Abraham and heals King Abimelech and his household. 174 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: Dear God, thank you for this story and what it 175 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: teaches us about your faithfulness, even when we take backwards 176 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: steps in our walk with you. Thank you also for 177 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 1: what Abimelech's example shows us about your hand of protection 178 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: in times that we're not even aware of our danger. 179 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: Thank you for always watching over us and always always 180 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: delivering on your promises in Christ's name. Amen, Thank you 181 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm 182 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey dot 183 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 184 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love. 185 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: By sharing this podcast, you can make a difference in 186 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: someone's life. And if you want more resources as to 187 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: how you can know God and experience Him in your life, 188 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 189 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 190 00:12:49,320 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality