Genesis 20:14–18 (ESV)
Abraham and Abimelech (Part 3)
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land
is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone
you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the
wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Abraham is deceptive in
pretending that Sarah is only his sister, but God intervenes to protect him from the harm of his own doing. Left to our own devices, our scheming makes a mess of our lives and brings affliction to those around us. For Abraham and his promised offspring, a
dream and an accompanying illness set matters straight again. For us and for the entire world, the future promised Offspring, Christ, set matters straight again, reconciling us to God.
I pray: Gracious God, thank You for intervening in our lives in Your promised Offspring, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Engelbrecht,
E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 46). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.