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Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article we'd learned, that Abraham had moved from the region of Mamre, right after he'd discovered -- that the Lord had destroyed the cites of Sodom and Gomorrah. Initially, Abraham's plan, was to settled from within the desert region of the Negev.
But something had happened along the way, while Abraham was headed to the desert region? For we would find, that Abraham had ended up, dwelling in another place for awhile -- before he'd reached the Negev? And the place, that Abraham and his family ended up settling in, was a Philistine town and district -- that was known as Gerar. Understand, that it would be at this point, that Abraham would run into the king that was reigning over Gerar at the time -- who was known as Abimelech. And it also at this time, that we'd learned, that Abraham was still being deceitful, when it came to his true relationship with his wife Sarah. For we find, that just like he did when he'd first entered Egypt, Abraham is still saying that Sarah is his sister -- instead of his wife. But also know, that because of this lie, Sarah ends up getting taken by Abimelech. However, God would eventually step in, and by doing so -- forces Abimelech to return Sarah back to Abraham: "But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, 'You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.'" -- Genesis 20:3 Nonetheless, we've now reached the point from within our journey, where we now find ourselves approximately one year, from the time that God had delivered the "promise seed message" to Abraham and Sarah: "Then the Lord said: 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.'" -- (Genesis 18:10) Know that the Lord was gracious towards Sarah, for He finally did what He had promised her sometime ago? For we now find, that after Sarah had received this message from the Lord, she would indeed -- eventually become pregnant, and then, she would finally give birth to a child -- that she can now call her own. Know that Sarah would end up calling this child Isaac, for this was the name that the Lord had instructed Abraham to give him: "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) Now understand, that the name Isaac means "laughter" -- and make no mistake, the name, seems to be very appropriate for the newborn? For we find, that when God had first told Abraham about Isaac, Abraham himself -- had also laughed, and had some doubt as well, when it came to what God had just told him. Now personally, I find it strange, and interesting -- that pastors and Bible teachers don't really talk about how Abraham laughed, and doubted God's Word, like they do when it comes to Sarah: "Abraham fell facedown; 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?'" And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" -- (Genesis 17: 17-18) Now remember, when Sarah had heard the news a short while later, this is when she also laughed to herself, for she had also doubted God's Word: "So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure.'" -- (Genesis 18:12) Now, I'm going to cut the ones who insist on ignoring Abraham doubt, some slack? Being that if I were to guess the reason why they seem to point out Sarah's doubt over Abraham's? Deals with the fact, that Sarah had tried to hide her doubt and God had called her out on it. But when it came to Abraham, know that when he had laughed, he did not try to hide his doubt -- and he was very upfront with God about it. But as for me, I can't say that I blame Abraham and Sarah for their skepticism, I mean after all, just like Abraham and Sarah had stated before: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" Now to be honest, if I was in Abraham's position, I would have asked God the same thing -- and I'm not ashamed to confess that. And you know what? We ought to be proud, that we have the opportunity, and privileges -- that no other creature has, from within God's glorious creation. For it's and honor, to be able to develop a very personal relationship with God, to where we can -- boldly and respectively, call Him out on the things that He has promised us. But honestly, if we were to learn how to completely trust God, the less, we'll be needing to boldly and respectively call Him out -- when it comes to the promises that the Lord had made, concerning us in the first place. I want you to also know, that this is one of the many reasons, why I admire the relationship that Abraham had with God? For he wasn't afraid to talk, and have a little debate with the Almighty One. And you know what? God loved him for it. However that may have been, we now move forward... And it's at this time, that we find Sarah, you know -- the one who had once laughed, because she doubted God? And it's at this moment from within our journey, that we now find her, laughing for different reasons? For she now knows, that finally, God has smiled on her. And because of this new found favor, and happiness -- joy has finally filled Sarah's heart. And because of this, Sarah would make an announcement, as she held her newborn son Isaac: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." -- Genesis 21:6,7 Now that the Sacred has revealed that the Lord had finally blessed Sarah with a child that she can call her own. We'll begin to move forward from within our journey. And it would be at this time, that the Sacred Record would reveal to us, that Abraham's family drama would once again -- begin to intensify. The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men **YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 16) Abimelech Angry with Abraham 17) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE-> 18) Hagar & Ishmael Added to Page 19) Hagar the Mother of a Great Nation 20) Abraham & The Well of Oath 21) Abraham & The Great Sacrifice 25) Rebekah gets Permission to Leave 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 
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