Sometime after Isaac’s birth, Abraham celebrates his promised son. This celebration seems to prompt Sarah’s scorn at Hagar’s son, Ishmael. Two meals bookend this particular episode, one a grand feast and the other a meager serving. Yet, both reveal truths about our response when we taste and see that the Lord is good.

While sojourning in the region of Gerar under the blessed welcome of King Abimelech, God once again shows His faithfulness by opening the wombs of all the women, which He had sealed at Abraham's deception. Abimelech's women are not the only ones, for in this chapter the promised son is born to Sarah and Abraham. There is much to learn about our promise-keeping God in this chapter.

In response to Abimelech’s rebuke, Abraham no longer excuses himself but repents from his treachery. The moral of the story is the call to discipleship. God wants His people to trust Him completely. More often than not, the troubles we face are of our own devising when we fail to place our whole trust in God. Thanks be to God for grace and prayer!

Abimelech hears God’s threat loud and clear, revealing something to us about the natural law written even on a pagan’s heart. More than that, this foreign king chides Abraham for bringing such threat of destruction upon his house and kingdom. What excuse does the Patriarch give? “I thought no one here feared God.” Abraham’s assumption is one that many have regarding the doctrine of Total Depravity. More than that, Christians must be careful not to self-righteously ascribe degeneracy, for the wicked world is watching and looking for hypocrisy within the church.

Moses returns once again to the life of Abraham, this time sojourning in the land of Gerar. Interestingly, the Patriarch finds himself in a similar situation as before: living in a foreign land, under the permission of the local king, with a fear he may want his wealth. Once again, Abraham passes off Sarah as his sister, though in this case Moses glosses over the details and jumps, instead, to a conversation between God and this pagan monarch. Follow along as we glean a lot from this interaction.