Genesis 20-13

The account of Abraham and Abimelech is a rerun of Abraham's mistake with Pharoah years earlier. Interesting that Abraham feared that king taking Sarah from him. With Pharoah, it was that Pharoah would see Sarah's beauty and take her for himself. With Abimelech, Sarah is 74 years old -- hardly the picture of a beauty queen! Yet the same thing happens, only God keeps Abimelech from sleeping with Sarah -- thus saving his family.

The admission that Abraham and Sarah are really half-sisters shocks us in today's culture, especially with all the birth defects from close marriage these days. But those laws weren't given until Exodus, a good 400-500 years later. When a spouse was needed, the family was the first place to look at that point. (Although the bit with Lot's daughters and Lot is still a bit much.)

Isaac finally comes and Hagar and Ishmael are sent away. The boys were having a real sibling rivalry. Ishmael will become the father of a nation also. The reason Ishmael will be a nation is because of Abraham according to 21:13.

Chapter 22 is often read and seen as a precursor to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The emotions of Abraham are hard to gauge. Certainly he must have been overwhelmed at the hearing of God's instructions of 22:2, yet by 22:5 he tells his servants that "we" will go worship and "we" will come back. The faith of Abraham. Isaac must have shared that faith, or at least had a strong confidence in his father.

Abraham's obedience is given as the reason why all nationss on earth would be blessed through Isaac in 22:18.

At Sarah's death, Abraham finally buys some land. He has been, since leaving Ur, a nomad living in tents, even though he became "like a prince" to the surrounding peoples. Ephron tries to give Abraham a grave for Sarah, but Abraham insists on paying the price. His time is almost over.