Bible Study Online Article

In the last article we'd learned a little about the "Covenant of Circumcision" and what this particular covenant, now required of Abraham. We'd also discovered that God had changed Abraham's wife name from Sarai, to Sarah. Be that as it may, we now move forward...

For we now find, that it's during this time from within our journey, that the Sacred Record reveals -- that God begins to tell Abraham about the child he will bear, with his wife Sarah.

Keep in mind, that Abraham and Sarah are found to be, at their later stages in life -- which is well beyond childbearing years.

However, it was at this moment that we'd also learned that Abraham had doubted what he had just heard from the Most High:

"Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?'" -- Genesis 17:17

But in spite of Abraham's doubts, God would once again, reassure him that this will happen, as He departed:

"Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'" -- Genesis 17:19

However, as we move forward, we now find Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent -- which was located near the great trees of Mamre. And it was at this time during the midst of a heated day, when Abraham had noticed three men standing nearby. So Abraham would immediately get up, and hurry out to meet with these strangers. Know that once he was in their presence, Abraham would bow low before them, as he spoke these words:

"If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way -- now that you have come to your servant." -- Genesis 18:3-5

Now after hearing what Abraham had to say, the three angelic strangers replied: "Very well -- do as you say." So Abraham hurried out and made his way to his tent, and as he went inside, he saw his wife Sarah sitting there. And this is when he said: "Quick! Get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." Now after doing this, Abraham would then head out to his livestock, and pick out a nice choice tender calf. Abraham would take this calf, and have his servant prepare it for the three angelic strangers to eat.

Next we find, that Abraham would go and pick up some curds and milk, and after doing so -- return back to his servant to pick up the prepared calf. Now it's at this time, that Abraham would then take the food items out to the angelic strangers, and place the meal before them. Know that Abraham would stand nearby under a tree, while the three angelic strangers ate their food.

Now as the three angelic strangers were eating their food, one called out to Abraham, for he was still standing nearby: "Where is your wife?" And after hearing this question, Abraham responded: "There, in the tent." After hearing this, one of the angels' then said: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."

Now it's at this moment that the Sacred Record reveals, that Sarah was ease-dropping when she'd heard the the foretelling of this prophecy by one of the angels. Keep in mind, that she was standing just inside the tent, near the entrance. And with Abraham being at the advance age that he was, and with her being well past childbearing years herself, Sarah would laugh to herself thinking: "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

And even though Sarah had not laughed and spoken out loud, the Lord would still hear her skepticism: "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." -- Genesis 18:13,14

Now thinking that she would be judged and punished by the Lord, when it came to her skepticism, Sarah quickly spoke out saying: "But I didn't laugh." But the Lord would have none of what Sarah was trying to convince Him of, and quickly replied: "Yes Sarah, you did laugh."

Now like I just stated, Sarah wasn't punished for her disbelief in what the Lord had said to her. For in her own right, it was reasonable, and had made perfect sense -- that she thought the way that she did? I mean after all, she had been through quite a bit, up to this point in her life. For we must not forget that she too, was faithful, right along with Abraham. For she'd also, left everything that she knew of, in order to follow her husband -- as he went out to follow God's calling on his life.

Know that she endured a lot, and one example of what she had to put up with, came when they had ran into a severe famine from within the land of Canaan? And it was at this time, that Abraham and his wife had went to Egypt, to wait out the famine. But Sarah ended up being taken by Pharaoh to be his wife, and honestly, judging by her husband's reaction -- Abraham was going to allow Pharaoh's actions to stand.

After all, the reason why Abraham had told his wife to lie about their marriage in the first place, by telling the Egyptians that she was his sister -- dealt with Abraham hoping that he would be able to remain alive. For he didn't want to be killed, just for being Sarah's husband. And know that Abraham's plan, had seemed to be working (for him), being that Pharaoh would shower him with expensive gifts. And on top of that, Pharaoh would provide Abraham with lavish accommodations, and the Egyptian ruler did all of these things -- in exchange for Sarah.

And although I can understand Abraham's reasoning on why he allowed it, you still won't find me coming to his defense either -- like most would do. Now personally, I find Abraham's actions to be somewhat: trifling, selfish, and cowardice. For he should have trusted God more when it came to his current ordeal, and by doing so, he would've stayed in the land of Canaan -- in spite of the famine. Actually, Abraham never should have went to Egypt in the first place.

However that may have been, know that Abraham would find himself to be very fortunate, since God would eventually step in -- and quickly disrupt Abraham's, and Pharaoh's, selfish and wicked plans -- when it came to Sarah.

However, as we begin to move forward, we now see -- that Sarah would become impatient when it came to her childbearing, for she'd came up with a plan, to have Hagar her Egyptian maidservant to marry Abraham -- in the hopes of her being able to bear him an heir, through Hagar. And with this childbearing plan now in full effect, some time would go by, and Hagar would indeed -- bear Abraham a son, and they named him Ishmael.

So as we can see, it would seem that Sarah's plan was working, just like she had envisioned it. But something would happen that she wasn't quite planning on? For we now find that Hagar would begin to look down, and ridicule Sarah, when it came to her childbearing dilemma. And since Hagar was able to provide Abraham with an heir, she'd deemed herself, to be a better woman than Sarah.

Finally, Sarah had reached a high point of frustration, and she'd became so angry towards Hagar. And it was this anger, that had finally prompted her to act? So-much-so, to where she would begin to seek revenge against Hagar. Also know that Sarah had done this, by what we like to call, over here in the west -- "pulling rank." Know that this involved Sarah becoming very ill-tempered towards Hagar. And because of this, Sarah had started to treat Hagar with so much disrespect, that Hagar would eventually flee from Abraham's household.

So this ordeal, would lead to Hagar receiving a visit from an angel of the Lord. And it would be this angel, that had convinced Hagar to humble herself, and go back to Abraham's household. And needless-to-say, Hagar would eventually soften her heart, and she obeyed the Lord and went back to Abraham's household.

Be that as it may, personally, I can't blame Sarah for having the thoughts that she did? I can't blame her, for giving up on the notion, that she would be able to have a family of her own one day. I mean after all, Sarah was well into her advance years, and perhaps, that's why God did not punish her for doubting Him.

And actually, come to think about it, Sarah probably had thought -- that she was already being punished by the Lord for. And it's this notice, that becomes clear, as we reflect -- on all that she had been through up to this point in her young life? But God would remind her' to never doubt His Word, and He was going to prove to her that nothing is too hard for Him to do.

Now personally this is one of the many reasons why I love God so much, for He has done so much for us already, and yet -- He continues to prove Himself to us. Now I would call that type of action on God's part - providing love to the highest degree? Because in actuality, God doesn't have to do it, but He does it anyway -- because He loves us so much. Thank you God for all that You have done, and continue to do in our lives - thank you so much - thank you... Amen.

So we just learned that the Lord had called Sarah out, when it came to her skepticism and doubts. And after Sarah had been caught, she then tried, to lie about it. But know that the Lord wasn't having any of it, when it came to Sarah trying to coverup what she had done. However, in the next article, we begin to move forward -- and it's at this time, that we find Abraham having to intercede on the behalf of two wicked cities? Sodom and Gomorrah, coming up next.

God Creates the Earth

The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men

The Introduction of Abraham

**YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE**

The Birth of Isaac

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

11) Sarah the Mother of Nations

12) <-CURRENT PAGE->

13) Abraham Bargains for Sodom

14) Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

15) The Judgment of Lot's Wife

16) The Daughters of Lot

17) Abimelech Angry with Abraham

18) The Birth of Isaac