Sat.’s Devo - The Tests

Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24; Matthew 7:15:29; Psalm 9:1-12; Proverbs 2:16-22 Abraham lied about Sarah for his own safety. This time he was not in Egypt but in Gerar which is in the south on the border of Palestine. It was ruled by Abimelech. Sarah was once again take into the kings harem but God protected her once again. God sent a disturbing warning dream to Abimelech telling him he was a dead man because Sarah was married. He was told to return Sarah to Abraham or he and all his people would die. We see how Satan wanted to implant his seed in Sarah but God wouldn’t let him. Abimelech called Abraham in and scolded him for not being honest with him and had threatening his whole kingdom with his actions. Abraham’s excuse was weak because he had trusted and feared man and not God. Abemelech gave Abraham some of his sheep, goats, cattle, and male and female servants, Sarah, 1,000 pieces of silver and his choice of his land. He apologized to Sarah for any harm or stress that he might have caused her and cleared their reputation. Abraham in return, prayed for Abimelech, his wife and their servants so they would become fruitful again. God had put a curse on them which had made them infertile. Sarah benefited from that prayer for their enemies and she became pregnant also at just the right time. She gave birth to Isaac and Abraham circumcised him after 8 days. When it was time for Isaac to be weaned, Sarah asked Abraham to get rid of Ishmael and Hagar because now she had the promised child. Abraham was very upset because Ishmael was his seed also. God reassured Abraham not to be concerned about Ishmael and Hagar because Sarah was right in the fact that his descendants would be counted through Isaac. Ishmael would be the father of many nations also. The next morning, Abraham prepared Hagar and Ishmael for their journey and sent them out to roam Beersheba. They left and walked until their water ran out. He told Ishmael to stay in the shade of a bush and walked away so she would not see him die. Hagar and Ishmael both cried in despair. God heard Ishmael’s cry but spoke to Hagar. He told her to go back and comfort Ishmael and showed her a well full of water. They lived in the wilderness where Ishmael became a skilled archer and settled in the wilderness of Pagan. Hagar arranged a marriage between him and an Egyptian woman. Abimelech came to visit Abraham to make a covenant of peace with him because Abraham was becoming so powerful, he wanted to be his ally and not his enemy. Abraham agreed after he settled the issue over a well in Beersheba. I can’t help but think this would be the same well that saved Ishmael and Hagar. Abemelech made the treaty giving him authority over the well. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree beside the well. This well is all through their history. It represents the well of living water. The tree signified a temple. Next, God tested Abraham’s allegiance to him. Abraham was to take Isaac to the mountain, Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering to Him. Abraham immediately obeyed. It took him and Isaac three days to get to the place. When Abraham was about to bring the knife down on Isaac, God rescued him commending Abraham for his faith and allegiance to Him. A ram was waiting in the thicket for Abraham to sacrifice and Isaac was set free to live. God blessed Abraham with a blessing that would bless the whole earth through his descendants. Abraham returned with a blessing and his son. He heard the good news that his brother, Nahor had had 12 sons from his wife and concubines. One of those sons would bear the wife of Isaac. In Matthew, Jesus continued his sermon. He warns us against false prophets. We can tell they are false, not only by their doctrine but by their fruit. They will produce bad fruit. The fruit is evident in their actions. Many would be deceived until they reach the judgment and then they will understand they followed the wrong voice. They broke God’s laws to follow man’s laws. Lord, thank you for your Word is the Rock that we stand on. We will stand as long as we stay focused on what your Word says and are not swayed by the empty words of the false teacher. Thank you for your Word.