Journey through the Book of Genesis with me.  The plan is simple. Read ONE chapter a day. Blog or journal 5* things you learned that you previously didn't know and ask 5* questions about the chapter that you'll ponder all week. Let's go!

** You'll probably learn way more than 5 things and have more than 5 questions about each chapter. That's totally fine. The more the merrier! 

Genesis 20:1-18

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: Why was Abraham constantly on the move? He had already reached his intended destination, Canaan. So why the constant relocating and circling back to Negev? (Negeb > Egypt > Negeb > Oaks of Mamre > Negeb > Kadesh/Shur > Gerar)

QUESTION 2: Why is Abraham reverting back to his old behaviors (Genesis 12) even after having experienced and encountered God in powerful ways?

QUESTION 3: What became of Abimelech after this account? He appears to be on the path to godliness.

QUESTION 4: How long was Sarah in Abimelech's house before being released back to Abraham? The narrative would suggest it was immediate, bit the fact that Abimelech's wife and female household could not conceive implies that Sarah may have been there for a lengthy period (long enough for several women to pick up on the fact that they are not getting pregnant).

WHAT I LEARNED

INSIGHT 1: My unfiltered reaction to verse 1-2: "Dude, Really??? Again?!? Your sister?!?!? Didn't you learn from what could have been a huge mess from that time Egypt in chapter 12??? Have you not learned, man!!??"

INSIGHT 2: Sarah is pushing 100 (Genesis 17:17), yet she's still youthful and attractive enough to catch the attention of kings! God bless you, girl!

INSIGHT 3: God's actions in v.3-7 is an encouraging reminder that in spite of Abraham's effort to jeopardize the whole "father of nations" plan, God remains faithful (even when we are faithless) and fights on his behalf to preserve the plan!

INSIGHT 4: (Verse 6) God is able to keep us from sinning against Him, so much so that He sometimes physically "keeps" us from "touching" or engaging in the thing that would stir up His righteous anger against us. 

PRAYER: "Lord, be merciful to me and keep me from sinning against you. "Keep" my hands and my heart from engaging in activities and thoughts that would pull me away from you."

INSIGHT 5: Abraham was a prophet (v.7). I did not know that. I never thought of him in that capacity. 

INSIGHT 6: It's interesting to note that Abraham perceived Abimelech and his kin as pagans who don't fear God, yet Abimelech proves to be an honorable, God-fearing king while Abraham's actions show him to be selfish and a bit cowardly - "I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’ (v.13)

INSIGHT 7: In Genesis 12:10-20, God afflicts Pharaoh and his palace household with plagues when a similar scenario played out with Abraham and Sarah. In this account in Gerar, however, God afflicts Abimelech and his household with barrenness so that they too experienced the heartache that Sarah had to deal with all her life. On the same token, the God who "closes the womb" is also the God who opens the womb so women can once again conceive - (v.17) "Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children"