Genesis 20-23

• Why does Abraham love to declare Sarah as his sister? (20:2)
• God intervenes (v3)
• Abimelech acknowledges God by calling him Lord. (v4) He pleads for being innocent from the heart (v5)
• God knows and explained that is why He has intercepted. (v6) Why does people assume when God shows up, He is to bring punishment? Or is that the characteristic of being God fearing?
• Is he not trusting God again? Does not apologise but seeks to find excuses to cover up. So much for the father of faith (v11-13)
• And he still gets blessed with land being given to him. (v14-15)
• All God said to Abimelech was that he was a dead man, when did He curse the women in not being able to bear children? (v17-18)

• God delivers His promises (21:1-2)
• Sarah wants to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. (v10)
• God sees Abraham displeased but promises God that they will be protected (v11-14)
• When they felt left alone and not wanted, God brings assurance and peace (v15-21). God is with you and provides your needs (v19)

• Abraham teaches his son well. Being young, he already knew to sacrifice a lamb as burnt offering (v7b).
• v12 - the ideal role-model characteristics for a follower of God: (1) Fear God; and (2) nothing between God and yourself (eg family members and other earthly attachments).
• God delivers a ram (v13) is answer so that Abraham may fulfill what he has promised his son saying that God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering in v8.
• This is a sign where Abraham has matured into a God-fearing person. He understood that God was the one who gave him Isaac at such an old age, but yet only gave his only son as a sacrifice back to the Lord without reservation. God blesses (v17-18)

• Sarah lived 127 years: wasn't there a cap of 120 years? (23:1, cf Gen 6:3)
• What was the whole thing about burying Sarah? (rest of Chp 23)