Until now Sarah has been an apparently selfless woman. She has dutifully followed her husband wherever God has sent them. She seems to have accepted all that has befallen her without recorded complaint. Even to the point of being identified as Abraham’s sister rather than his wife and asking her husband to sleep with another woman, Hagar, in order that he could father a son he so longed for.  Conceivably it was the only way Abraham’s line would continue, and was in both their eyes a necessity. More importantly though, we saw that on this occasion Sarah and Abraham were not relying on God’s provision alone. How often have I also felt that God’s plan for my life needed a little help, only to realise further down the line that is a ridiculous belief? Our God is our provision and needs no help from you or me. We just have to follow His lead.

We should be reminded that the right things sometimes happen for the wrong reasons. I do not believe that Sarah was shown in the best light in this chapter. I do not see a quiet and submissive spirit in her confrontation with Abraham. Nevertheless, we must conclude from God’s instructions to Abraham to obey his wife that the right thing to do was to put Ishmael away, once and for all. This prepared the way for the “sacrifice of Isaac” in the next chapter, for only now could God say to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there … ” (Genesis 22:2).

When Hagar was lost in the desert and feared death for her and Ishmael, God hears her crying. In His mercy he promises to make him into a great nation too.  It is from his line that the Muslim prophet Mohammed comes.

Finally today we see how our fears can be totally unfounded. Abraham feared for his life and for his wife. Abraham believed that God would be obeyed and His people protected only where He was known and feared. Abraham was to learn through this treaty with Abimelech that God cares for His own. If Abimelech would not dare to take a well, he would not take a wife or a life.  Having made this treaty with each other Abraham marks the place by planting a tamarisk tree. Abraham then remains in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

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Reflection:  Faith rests upon the covenant promises of God in which case fear has no place in our lives.