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Abraham and Sarah

   By Art Ferdig Page 1 2 Good News April, 1980

What an opportunity he [Abraham] had, getting to know God as a friend and companion, face to face.

We might have a tendency to envy that relationship,

but would we have displayed the same humility as well as the attendant character

to withstand the same trials and tests?

 

Abram, of course, later recounted all this to Sarai — the promise of a legal heir, their family growing into a nation of people and land from the Nile to the Euphrates! Sarai was happy about everything except that she was barren. How could she, now about 76 years old, have a son?

 

God appears again

Sarai was convinced and persuaded Abram that God must intend their heir be born of a concubine. She selected her handmaid, Hagar, and gave her to Abram for a wife (a wife of less rank than herself). Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, and they supposed he was the heir God had promised. But this was not so.

When Abraham was 99 years old (Ishmael was now 13), God appeared to him again and repeated His promises of an heir, many descendants land and blessings — but on the condition that Abram wholeheartedly serve God (Gen. 17:1-2). Abram lay prostrate on the ground, his face to the earth, as God spoke.

God explained that Abram's name would now be changed to Abraham (meaning father of a multitude) because he would be a father of many nations. He also asked that Abraham now show God a sign of good faith: that he and all the males of his household, including servants, be circumcised. This was done the very same day.

Next, God changed Sarai's name to Sarah (meaning a Princess), for He said: "I will bless her, and give thee a son of her . . . she shall be a mother of nations."

This struck Abraham as terribly funny — that they should have a son in their old age. He was nearly 100 and Sarah was 90. He asked God to let Ishmael be their heir instead (verses 17-18).

But God replied that Sarah would, indeed, give birth to a son, and he would be called Isaac (meaning laughter), because Abraham laughed.

 

Three special guests

A short while later, God, accompanied by two angels, visited‑Abraham again — this time at his own tent (Gen. 18:1-2). They appeared in human form, had their feet washed by a servant and were served a delicious lunch of veal, biscuits, butter and milk. It was too warm in the tent, so they ate outdoors under a shade tree. There God again told Abraham that Sarah would have a son. And even though she had passed the age of child bearing, He would restore her reproductive processes for the purpose of giving them an heir.

Sarah, curious about the conversation, was eavesdropping while Abraham and his guests were eating. Hearing what was said, she began laughing quietly to herself. God knew she was laughing and asked Abraham why Sarah thought this was so funny. "Wherefore did Sarah laugh . . . is anything too hard for the Lord?" (verses 13-14)

Sarah, both embarrassed and frightened at being caught, denied that she laughed, for which she was gently rebuked.

As their guests prepared to leave, Abraham walked with them a short way. And God, knowing Abraham's concern for Lot, decided to tell him of the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham importuned God, in an interesting display of salesmanship, to spare the righteous. God agreed. But only Lot, his wife and two daughters were counted righteous. When they were literally forced out of the city to safety, Lot's wife looked back in remorse (disobeying God) and was changed into a pillar of salt. Josephus writes that he actually saw the pillar in his day, the first century, A.D. (Ant., Bk. I, Ch. XI).

 

The honor of Abimelech

Needing better pasture for their flocks, Abraham and Sarah journeyed south into the country ruled by King Abimelech. But while there, Sarah's beauty and fair complexion once again became a topic of considerable conversation, even though she was now 90 years old!

 

She so impressed Abimelech that he took her into his harem, for Abraham and Sarah, showing a lack of faith in God, told Abimelech she was Abraham's sister and not his wife. This was the second time they had told this half-truth for fear Abraham would be killed. And the scheme didn't work any better this time.

But God didn't allow the king to defile Sarah — or himself. God appeared to Abimelech in a dream and warned him that Sarah was Abraham's wife. He also struck all the women in the king's house with sterility that same night. God then told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham and ask Abraham to pay for himself and his household, and God would forgive him — otherwise he was as good as dead.

Abimelech called Abraham early in the morning and rebuked him for his deception, getting only feeble excuses in response. Then he further humbled Abraham by giving him gifts of friendship. He then turned to Sarah, telling her that he paid her "brothers 1,000 pieces of silver to take her back, and that she should keep a veil over her eyes from now on as one betrothed (or married) to Abraham.

Then Abraham humbly prayed that God would heal the malady He had placed on Abimelech's household, and the curse was removed.

 

The heir is born

Just as God foretold, Sarah conceived by Abraham and gave birth to a son, whom they named Isaac. The baby was circumcised on the eighth day, according to God's command, as a token of the covenant between God and Abraham.

Sarah, at the age of a grandmother, now laughed out of happiness and pride. She was barren no longer.

After Isaac was weaned at about 2 l/2 years, Ishmael was caught mocking the new heir, apparently jealous of suddenly finding himself in second place. This caused his and Hagar's immediate removal from Abraham's household (Gen. 21:9-10).

 

Abraham tested by God

Nearly 30 years later, Abraham was subjected to his most severe test of character. He was commanded by God to sacrifice Isaac, now a young man, as a burnt offering at Mt. Moriah!

It's hard to imagine the surprise and mental agony Abraham must have suffered. Yet his deep respect for God and his promise of obedience weighed greater than the love for his own son. He didn't argue or try to talk God into changing His mind.

He took Isaac and sufficient wood for the burnt offering and went up the mountain as directed. There he built an altar, prepared the wood and tied Isaac. After placing his son on the wood, Abraham tools his knife — determined to obey God — and would have completed the sacrifice had not God called to him from heaven to spare young Isaac's life.

God told him, instead, to sacrifice the ram whose horns were tangled in a nearby thicket, which Abraham and Isaac willingly did, rejoicing before God (Gen. 22:12-13).

God was now sure of Abraham's faithfulness. His promise of blessings to Abraham and his heirs now became unconditional. They were as sure as the rising and setting of the sun — guaranteed!

 

A wife for Isaac

A few years after this traumatic test of faith, Sarah died, having passed her 127th birthday. Abraham buried her in a cave at Mechpelah, which he had purchased for a family burial place (Gen. 23:1-4). Then he began the task of finding a wife for his son.

He wanted Isaac to marry one of his own kindred, and that meant sending his servant to Mesopotamia to the family of Nahor, Abraham's brother. There he felt, by God's direction, he would find a suitable mate. The servant did as he was told and returned with Rebekah. She became Isaac's wife, replacing Sarah (now dead about three years) as mistress of the household.

 

Abraham's old age

With his son's marriage taken care of — a burden that had weighed heavily on his mind — Abraham, at the young age of 140, decided to find a wife for himself also. He chose a woman named Keturah. By her he had six additional sons. And because they, like Ishmael, were not heirs of the covenant, he gave them each a portion of his wealth and sent them into the east country, away from Isaac.

Abraham died at age 175 (c. 1842 B.C.) after a remarkable 100 years of literally walking and talking with God. What an opportunity he had, getting to know God as a friend and companion, face to face. We might have a tendency to envy that relationship, but would we have displayed the same humility as well as the attendant character withstand the same trials and tests?

Abraham, after living long enough to see his two grandsons, Esau and Jacob, reach the age of 15 years, died and was buried by Isaac and Ishmael beside Sarah at Mechpelah (Gen. 25:7-9). He can truly be called the father of the faithful. Through him came Isaac, Jacob (called Israel) and Christ, the Savior of the world.