Bible Discussion Thread

Greeting in the awesome name of the Lord our God! I have read the comments on this chapter. Thank you for contributing! In this chapter, once again Abraham and Sarah agree for her to say she is Abraham's sister when encountering another magistrate from the surrounding area, like in Egypt. Many seem concerned about Sarah actually being Abraham's half sister. I think this was common in tribal cultures. God did not condemn the relationship and protects both Sarah and Abraham. In Ur, when Abraham married Sarah, there may not have been available relatives from the line of Nahor his grandfather living in the area for him to choose a wife from. Or he relatives of Abrahams grandfather and uncles who lived in the area may have already been married or were too steeped in the pagan religions of the area and therefore were not suitable for Abraham for God's purposes.

In revisiting these chapters on Abraham once again now wonder if God had told Abraham to have Sarah say she is his sister in order that the magistrates in the respective kingdoms would be put in a position to to have to discover the power of The God of Abraham. The Pharoah in Egypt did not want to take another man's wife, but still sickness came to his household and he needed to inquire of Abraham. This gave God the opportunity to show the Pharoah His power and Abraham's favor by God. Pharaoh recognized the supremacy of Abraham's God and showered him with riches as Abraham left the area. A healthy respect was created in Pharaoh for God. He knew not to mess with Abraham.

With Abimelech, not intending to take another man's wife had good intention and God spoke to him in a dream. He, too, was able to learn that the God of Abraham was real and powerful and that this God favored Abraham. He needed to inquire of Abraham just like Pharaoh, and learned to respect both God and Abraham for future meetings, (which probably occurred) sending Abraham away with the choice of the land to tend his flocks.