Genesis 20:1-18 | This Again?

In our passage this week, after witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham and Sarah leave their home by the oaks of Mamre to journey south, sojourning in Gerar. Afraid for his life, Abraham once again puts Sarah's life at risk by calling her a sister. As a result Abimelech, the king of Gerar, takes Sarah as a wife. However, God is not about to let the parentage of the promised son, Isaac, be jeopardized. So God powerfully intervenes to stop Abimelech and protect Sarah. Yet the response we see from the king and his people is completely unexpected, as they repent in fear of God. And while Abraham has yet again broken the covenant of faith with God, God has in turn blessed Abraham through his failure. This is the same God that would one day nail our failure to the cross, demonstrating the guarantee of His grace to the people of His promise.