Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess.
But she was unhappy because she'd been locked in a tower by a wicked witch.
A fierce dragon guarded the tower.
He roared and breathed fire at anyone who came near.
Everyone was afraid of the dragon.
Until one day, a handsome prince in bright shining armour
came riding by on his white stallion.
He heard the princess crying,
and he slew the dragon with his mighty sword,
broke down the door, and rescued the princess.
He took the princess back to his kingdom, where he married her,
and they all lived happily ever after.
You frequently come across people who try and dismiss the Bible as mere fairy stories.
And while there are many other reasons why we would reject that claim,
the one that seems most obvious to me
is that the characters and events in biblical narrative
are not remotely like those that you find in the typical fairy story.
In your typical fairy story, everything is simple and clear.
There are goodies, and you know exactly who they are.
There are baddies, and you know exactly who they are.
And after some challenge or other,
the goodies clearly and comprehensively win.
Good triumphs, evil is defeated,
and they all live happily ever after.
But when we look at the Bible,
we find something completely different.
We keep seeing it again and again,
whether it's in these studies we've been doing in Abraham,
or the studies we've been doing in the morning in Luke's Gospel,
or throughout the Bible,
just everything is a lot messier.
The heroes of the faith are often complete failures.
They stumble from folly to folly to outright rebellion.
And likewise, the enemies of God,
well, they're often shown to act nobly and rightly.
And when there are those victories,
those times when good seems to win through,
they're short-lived and incomplete.
At least until that future,
final, ultimate, literally apocalyptic victory
over evil and the making of all things new.
But until then, in all these messy stories,
there is one character that we find faultless,
and one thing we find constant.
God and his grace towards people.
Messy, broken, ordinary people,
like me, like you,
like all the people out there.
And I want us to look in this passage
at God's grace towards four categories of people.
To the stumbling believer,
to the unbeliever,
to the rejected,
and finally, to the world.
Don't worry if you think I'm going to take as long
on all the points as on the first point.
There just seems to be so much to say there.
And credit to my sister for the illustrations.
As we've studied Abraham's life
over the past couple of months,
we've seen a complex man.
A man at once of great faith
and of great doubt,
of obedience and of sin.
And in the first part of our passage here,
in chapter 20,
we don't see him in his finest hour.
After the dramatic events of the previous chapters,
you would think it was fairly clear
that he would want to follow God
and follow God's way clearly.
Clearly, but he moves into the region ruled by Abimelech,
a Philistine king.
And knowing that his wife is beautiful,
he fears that Abimelech will kill him
so as to take Sarah as his wife.
And so therefore he lies
and pretends that Sarah is his sister
so as to protect himself.
While on a technicality this is true,
she is his half-sister,
he's blatantly intending to deceive here.
While we in a few weeks ago
tried to let Abraham off lightly
and find the mitigating factors in his behaviour,
we can't do the same here.
Instead, when we read this,
we can't help wanting to cry out to Abraham
No, stop, don't do it, you stupid idiot.
Because Abraham's sin here is repeated.
Just a few chapters back,
he tried the same trick in Egypt.
And that didn't work out well.
The first time we can maybe excuse
as a stupid mistake,
but to do it again?
That's inexcusable.
Surely he should have known better.
But we also see here
that his sin is premeditated.
This is not accidental.
This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Because he tells Abimelech
down in verse 13
that this is the plan
that he agreed with Sarah
when he left Haran
about 25 years earlier.
He's had plenty of time to realise
that this is not a good idea.
And yet,
he still goes ahead with his plan.
And his sin
put several people in danger.
First,
and most obviously,
it put Sarah in danger
so as to protect himself.
Basically,
he's saying to Sarah,
you know,
all that stuff I said to you
about
for better,
for worse,
or whatever
Bronze Age,
Middle Eastern wedding vows
were like.
Well,
actually,
if you'd just be willing
to sacrifice yourself
and your honour
for my safety,
I'm not willing
to take any risk
on behalf of you.
But his sin
also puts Abimelech
in danger.
He puts Abimelech
in danger
of sin
because his deception
leads Abimelech
to believe
that Sarah is unmarried
and that therefore
his intentions,
if not quite
in line with
21st century niceties,
are essentially honourable.
But his sin
also puts his
unborn child
in danger.
It's not clear
whether at this point
Sarah is pregnant.
But if she's not,
she will be soon.
Just before
the events
in Sodom and Gomorrah,
Abraham was told
that a year
from now,
Sarah will have
a son.
If Abimelech
had followed through
with his plan,
there could be
uncertainty raised
about whose son
is this?
Is this
the promised
son of Abraham
through whom
all the nations
will be blessed?
Or is this
just
the son of
some
minor Philistine
king?
But ultimately,
Abraham's sin
demonstrates
a total
lack of faith
in God.
He says that
the fear of God
is not in this
place,
and yet
there is far
greater fear
of God
shown by
Abimelech,
a pagan,
than by Abraham.
He doesn't
trust God
to protect him
and his family.
Instead,
he relies on
his own cunning
and deception
to protect himself
at the expense
of others.
I'd love to say
that we were
somehow different,
that Abraham
was an oddity,
an exception,
an outlier,
but I know
that's not true,
and you know
that's not true.
All too often,
our sin
is repetitive
and habitual.
Every time
we think
we've learned
our lesson,
we won't go
there again,
and we do.
All too often,
we know in advance
exactly
what we're going
to do.
Maybe not 25
years in advance,
but still
long enough
to have worked
out
that our plan
is wrong,
but also
long enough
to make up
enough excuses
as to why
actually
it's okay.
And while
we like
to pretend
that our sin
is a private
thing,
we like
to follow
the mantra
of the world
around us
that says
if it doesn't
harm anyone,
then it's okay.
The reality
is none
of us
are hermits.
Our lives
are all
intertwined
and interdependent,
whether in our
families,
in our workplaces,
or even more
in the church.
when I am
not in a
right relationship
with my
Father,
how can I
be there
to exhort
and encourage
you,
to worship
beside you,
to raise
my voice
with you
and strengthen
you?
And when I
sin,
and particularly
when you see
me sin,
will I lead
you into
temptation
and sin
yourself?
So often
I've heard
the gospel
presented
in such
a nice,
simple way
that sounds
great,
but leads
people to
believe that
after accepting
salvation,
sin is not
something they
should expect
to struggle
with.
Andrew
Peterson,
an American
singer-songwriter,
in one of his
songs says,
and I
thought
that all
my struggles
would be
victories by
now,
but I
confess
that the
mess
is there.
Or as
the Apostle
John says
in his
letter,
if we
claim to
be without
sin,
we deceive
ourselves
and the
truth is
not in
us.
We must
not deny
the reality
of the
sin within
us.
Instead,
as the
Book of
Common Prayer
would say,
we acknowledge
and confess
the grievous
sins and
wickedness
which we
have so
often
committed
by thought,
word,
and deed.
But while
Abraham's
actions were
completely
wrong,
it seems
that his
fears were
not totally
unfounded.
abimelech
does indeed
consider
Sarah
beautiful,
even though
she's about
90 years
old,
and he
sins for
her.
And despite
the fact
that these
events were
brought about
by Abraham's
willful
disobedience,
God still
demonstrates his
grace towards
him.
God
demonstrates
his grace
by appearing
to Abimelech
to stop
him from
taking his
unwitting sin
any further.
He intervenes
to protect
Sarah when
Abraham is
ducked out of
his responsibilities.
Abraham may
not be willing
to protect
Sarah's
honour,
but God
once again
steps in.
But God
also shows
his grace
towards
Abraham
by bringing
him favour
in the eyes
of Abimelech.
I don't
really know,
and I'm
sure probably
no one
really knows,
can only
speculate
exactly what
customs at
the time
were like,
but it
seems that
it would
have been
perfectly
natural
for Abimelech
to be furious
here,
to send
Abraham away
or worse.
But he
sees that
God is
with Abraham,
and so
rather than
seeking
compensation
from Abraham,
he instead
is the one
that gives
lavish gifts
and welcomes
Abraham to
stay in his
land.
And despite
Abraham's
sin,
God
graciously
gives him
the responsibility
to intercede
in prayer
for Abimelech.
for the man
that he
has wronged.
He shows
Abraham
that he
still has
a job
for him
to do.
He uses
Abraham
as the
means
for taking
away
the punishment
that was
hanging over
Abimelech
and his
household.
God
and he
continues
to use
him
to show
his
greatness
to
Abimelech
so that
he can
say
in chapter
21,
God
is with
you
in everything
you do.
He
continues
to use
Abraham
as an
ambassador
to the
world around
him.
God
also
shows
his
grace
to
Abraham
by not
going
back
on
his
promise.
As we'll
see later,
all the
promises
he had
made
to
Abraham
will
still
be
fulfilled.
Abraham's
failure
does not
mean that
God will
not do
what he
had said
he will
do.
God's
plans
were not
dependent
on
Abraham's
strength.
And then
right at
the end
of the
passage
we see
God
showing
his
grace
to
Abraham
by
bringing
him
back
to a
place
of
worship.
It's
interesting
to see
that
following
the
previous
incident
in
Egypt
Abraham
waited
until
he got
back
to
Bethel
the
place
where
he
had
worshipped
God
before.
It
seems
that
in
some
way
he
felt
he
couldn't
worship
God
where
he
was.
But
in
this
case
we
see
him
worshipping
God
there
in
Beersheba
in
the
land
of
the
Philistines.
I'm
not
really
sure
what
the
significance
of
the
planting
of
the
trees
is.
Commentators
seem
to
come
up
with
widely
varying
views
on
it
but
it
seems
to
me
that
it's
in
some
ways
an
act
of
placemaking
that
Abraham
is
making
a
statement
saying
that
here
as a
nomad
in a
foreign
land
as a
sinner
I
will
worship
the
Lord
here.
so
when we
see
God's
grace
shown
like
this
to
a
stumbling
believer
there
is the
obvious
risk
of
thinking
well
sin's
okay
then
we
don't
need
to be
concerned
about
it
we
don't
need
to
seek
daily
to
put
to
death
the
sin
within
us
it
would
be
easy
to
take
the
verse
we
read
in
first
John
to
say
that
because
sin
is
inevitable
it's
unimportant
but
John
goes on
to say
a few
verses
later
I
write
this
to
you
so
that
you
will
not
sin
but
if
anyone
does
sin
we
have
an
advocate
with
the
Father
Jesus
Christ
the
righteous
one
he
is
the
atoning
sacrifice
for
our
sins
you
see
there's
no
suggestion
here
that
sin
isn't
a
big
deal
that
it
doesn't
matter
there's
no
suggestion
that
it
can
just
be
swept
under
the
carpet
but
it
is
a
great
problem
but
Christ's
sacrifice
for
us
is
even
greater
as
one
hymn
puts
it
grace
God's
grace
that is
greater
than
all
our
sins
and
like
Abraham
our
past
failures
do not
disqualify
us
from
being
used
by
God
John
Piper
in
one
of
his
sermons
speaks
about
how
there
are
so
many
young
Christians
who are
filled
with
radical
passionate
zeal
to give
their
lives
for
Christ
but
then
they
fall
into
sin
and
despite
repentance
they're
never
the same
again
he
says
the
tragedy
is
that
Satan
uses
the
guilt
of
these
failures
to
strip
you
of
every
radical
dream
you
ever
had
or
might
have
and
in
its
place
give
you
a
happy
safe
secure
American
life
of
superficial
pleasure
but
last week
in the
morning
we looked
at
Jesus
words
to
Peter
at
the
last
supper
when
you
have
turned
back
strengthen
your
brothers
Jesus
knew
of
Peter's
imminent
failure
but
he
still
had
a
mission
for
him
to
do
in
the
future
but
if
in
this
passage
we've
seen
the
amazing
grace
that
God
shows
to
stumbling
believers
we also
see
the
grace
that
he
shows
to
the
unbeliever
because
we've
read
about
Abimelech
a
Philistine
presumably
pagan
king
and
it
would
be
easy
therefore
for
us
to
think
if
the
Bible
was
a
simple
fairy
story
with
nice
clear
categories
of
people
that
Abimelech
falls
into
the
category
of
baddie
enemy
of
God
and
his
people
and
therefore
when
he
comes
up
against
God
will
destroy
him
in
righteous
anger
but
that's
not
what
happens
instead
God
is
gracious
because
he
recognizes
that
Abimelech
has
acted
in
ignorance
and
instead
he
reveals
himself
to
Abimelech
in
a
dream
he
warns
him
of
what
he
is
about
to
do
warns
him
that
if
he
continues
on
the
path
he's
on
then
he
will
die
and
although
Abimelech
is a
pagan
who
had
probably
never
given
God
a
thought
before
God
listens
as he
pleads
his
case
but
he
clearly
sets
out
to
Abimelech
the
choice
that
lies
before
him
he
can
turn
back
from
what
he
has
started
on
and
he
will
live
or
he
can
ignore
the
warning
continue
and
he
will
die
I
think
when
we
ponder
the
question
of
evil
in
our
world
we
often
look
forward
to
how
God
will
one
day
put
all
things
right
and
then
that
now
through
his
grace
he
is
holding
back
judgment
he
is
at
time
he
is
at
time
he
is
actively
restraining
it
his
grace
is
at
work
in
the
lives
of
unbelievers
holding
them
back
from
the
full
expression
of
depravity
most
of the
time
it
will
not
be
by
such
dramatic
means
as
this
although
there
are
several
occurrences
in the
Bible
where
God
does
speak
to
pagans
through
dreams
to
warn
them
of
what
he
is
going
to
do
but
he'll
often
use
his
people
to
bring
about
good
and
to
restrain
evil
in
a
government
in
a
society
in
a
workplace
where
they
have
been
called
to be
salt
and
light
in
other
times
he
will
restrain
people
by
speaking
to
them
through
their
conscience
yes
this
world
is
currently
under
the
rule
of
Satan
but
he
is
far
from
having
complete
control
God
is
very
clearly
still
on
the
throne
but
Abimelech
was still
left with
a choice
and
although
Abraham
thought
that there
was no
fear of
God
in the
place
when
God
revealed
himself
Abimelech
did
fear
and
obeyed
God
and
God
was
gracious
to
him
and
took
away
the
judgment
that
was
hanging
over
him
and
brought
about
reconciliation
with
Abraham
God
was also
gracious
in
revealing
himself
to
Abraham
through
his
dealings
with
Abraham
he
could
see
that
this
was
not
your
ordinary
tribal
deity
but
that
Abraham's
God
had
a
real
effect
on
Abraham's
life
because
of this
we see
in the
last part
of
chapter
21
a
quite
strange
occurrence
Abimelech
seeks
a peace
treaty
from
Abraham
now
Abimelech
is the
king
in this
place
Abraham
is just
a
nomad
who
happens
to be
camping
on his
land
okay
a
quite
rich
nomad
with
quite
a
number
of
people
with
him
but
still
it
should
be
Abraham
that
is
going
to
Abimelech
seeking
peace
but
Abimelech
recognises
that
God
is on
Abraham's
side
and so
therefore
he sees
that he
is the
one
in the
position
of
weakness
we
don't
really
know
what
Abimelech
believed
we
don't
know
what
he
thought
about
God
did
he
just
add
him
into
his
pantheon
of
gods
as
yet
another
one
to
be
appeased
or
did
he
acknowledge
him
as
the
one
true
God
like
so
many
other
things
the
Bible
doesn't
tell
us
but
as
we
walk
out
of
here
tonight
into
the
week
ahead
let's
not
for a
moment
think
that
God's
grace
is
only
for
us
that
we
are
in
any
way
special
other
than
that
God
has
shown
his
grace
to
us
let's
go
into
a
world
where
God's
grace
stays
the
hand
of
many
that
would
do
evil
and
see
how
we
might
be
used
to
bring
good
and
to
bring
God
and
his
grace
to
the
world
around
us
and
to
the
people
that
we
meet
we
may
never
know
how
they
respond
but
let's
pray
that
God
might
display
himself
through
us
and
then
in
the
middle
of
our
passage
from
verse
8
in
chapter
21
we
come
across
an
awkward
and
rather
uncomfortable
story
that
doesn't
really
nicely
fit
in
the
story
of
Hagar
and
Ishmael
I
wish
I
could
spend
more
time
on
this
because
I
think
there's
actually
a lot
to say
about
it
but
essentially
this
story
shouldn't
be
there
at
all
this
family
this
conflict
these
events
were
all
a
result
of
Abraham's
folly
of
him
trying
to
fulfill
God's
plan
in
his
own
way
this
is
not
the
way
that
it
should
have
happened
although
of
course
God
knew
exactly
what
he
was
doing
we
see
here
Ishmael
who
has
been
displaced
from
his
position
of
honour
he
on
the
verge
of
manhood
probably
15
16
17
that
sort
of
age
must
now
take
second
place
to
a
mere
toddler
Isaac
and
naturally
he
doesn't
take
this
too
well
unlike
all
teenagers
he
mouths
off
about
it
Sarah
will
not
have
anyone
questioning
the honour
due
to
her
son
and
so
she
will
not
have
them
in
her
household
any
longer
and
so
they
are
sent
away
if
we
started
tonight
looking
at a
situation
where
God
was
gracious
to
Abraham
in
the
mess
that
he
had
got
himself
into
here
we
see
God
showing
his
grace
to
Hagar
and
Ishmael
who
although
far
from
perfect
are
really
the
victims
in
a
situation
that
was
not
of
their
own
making
and
at
first
it
seems
that
God
is
being
harsh
and
callous
he
seems
to
be
taking
Sarah's
side
and
telling
Abraham
that
despite
any
reservations
he
has
he
should
send
them
away
and
yes
God
is
saying
that
this
is
not
the
place
for
them
that
they
are
not
part
of
this
plan
but
God
is
still
gracious
to
them
God
still
has
a
plan
for
them
you
see
first
of
all
he
shows
grace
to
them
by
showing
them
the
resources
that
he
has
provided
they
are
wandering
without
a
guide
in
the
wilderness
that
they
don't
know
and
they
can't
find
any
water
Hagar
is
in
desperation
she
believes
they're
going
to
die
and
although
she
has
been
sent
away
from
Abraham
and
Abraham's
household
and
protection
Abraham's
God
is
still
with
her
and
he
shows
her
the
well
where
they
can
find
refreshment
for
the
journey
ahead
but
he
also
shows
them
grace
by
promising
a
blessing
to
Ishmael
a
blessing
in many
ways
similar
to
that
he
promised
to
Isaac
it's
not
the
same
blessing
it
does
not
have
everything
that
came
with
that
but
it's
still
a
promise
to
bless
like
Isaac
he
would
become
the
father
of
twelve
tribes
and
God
would
make
him
a
great
nation
and
then
eventually
God
brings
about
some
sort
of
reconciliation
don't
know
exactly
how
but
at the
death
of
Abraham
Isaac
and
Ishmael
together
bury
Abraham
so in
some
ways
that
relationship
is
restored
and
although
in
many
ways
the
Ishmaelites
become
a
thorn
in the
side
of
the
Israelites
God
still
continues
to use
them
to bring
about
his
will
in
particular
it's
Ishmaelite
merchants
that
take
Joseph
to
Egypt
because
none
of this
is happening
without
God
knowing
what
he's
doing
I
don't
know
some
of
you
may
consider
yourself
to be
rejected
to be
victims
of events
out with
your
control
whether
through
family
breakdown
redundancy
unemployment
or other
circumstances
you feel
unneeded
and
unwanted
I
really
want to
avoid
saying
anything
trite
here
it would
be easy
to say
something
that
hurts
more
and
helps
but I
think
the key
message
here
is that
however
abandoned
you may
think
you are
you're
not
abandoned
by God
and his
grace
but
secondly
I hope
that church
is somewhere
that you find
you can
belong
no
it won't
always be
easy
but
we are
a collection
of
misfits
a collection
of people
that have
nothing
ties
us
together
other
than
being
saved
from
broken
lives
by
outrageous
grace
try and
forgive us
when we
let you
down
I'm
sure
we
will
but
finally
we get
to the
central
event
of the
passage
which
I've
been
sort
of
skirting
around
strangely
it's
only
given
seven
verses
it's
just
given
a little
bit
in here
and yet
it's the
climax
of the
whole
story
of
Abraham
everything
has been
pointing
towards
this
event
the
birth
of
Isaac
to
Abraham
and
Sarah
has
taken
decades
to
Abraham
and
Sarah's
faith
in
God's
promises
has
wavered
all
over
the
place
but
God
does
what
he
says
he
will
in
his
own
good
timing
Sarah
had
very
naturally
laughed
when
told
she
would
have
a
son
of
her
own
despite
her
longings
she
had
always
been
childless
and
now
was
an
old
woman
well
past
the
age
where
it
was
biologically
possible
for
her
to
have
children
her
laughter
had
been
one
of
dismissal
but
quite
probably
also
bitterness
but
her
laughter
here
is
laughter
of
joy
and
amazement
at
the
miracle
that
had
happened
people
like to
tell us
that
we
know
today
that
miracles
aren't
scientifically
possible
yeah
that's
the
whole
point
according
to
laws
of
the
universe
these
things
can't
happen
but
to
the
god
who
spoke
the
universe
into
existence
what's
a little
thing
like that
going
to
stop
him
and
so
we
see
god
fulfilling
his
promise
to
Abraham
and
Sarah
and
giving
them
the
child
that
they
longed
for
the
child
whose
name
laughter
was
always
going
to
remind
them
how
foolish
it
is
to
dismiss
god's
promises
even
when
they're
clearly
impossible
but
this
is
about
far
more
than
the
gift
of a
baby
to a
childless
couple
one
important
thing
here
is that
god
has
not
made
a
general
promise
to
provide
us
with
what
we
want
with
what
we
long
for
a
son
or
whatever
other
thing
you
deeply
long
for
is
not
what
god
has
promised
he
may
or
may
not
in
his
good
timing
give
you
what
you
want
but
what
we
can
depend
on
is
that
he
will
fulfill
the
things
that
he
has
promised
and
here
he
had
promised
something
far
more
than
a
child
he
had
promised
the
father
of
a
great
nation
of
descendants
that
could
not
be
counted
like
the
stars
of
the
sky
through
which
all
nations
would
be
blessed
and
indeed
within
just
a
few
centuries
his
descendants
numbered
somewhere
around
two
million
a
great
nation
yes
but
one
that
demonstrably
could
be
counted
because
they
did
and
yet
we
see
a
similar
prophecy
towards
the
end
of
the
Bible
in
Revelation
7
we
read
of
a
great
multitude
that
no
one
could
count
from
every
nation
tribe
people
and
language
standing
before
the
throne
and
before
the
lamb
because
as
the
song
goes
father
Abraham
had
many
sons
many
sons
had
father
Abraham
I
am
one
of
them
and
so
are
you
so
let's
all
praise
the
Lord
and
no
as
far
as
I
know
I
am
not
a
biological
descendant
of
Abraham
although
actually
statistically
it's
likely
but
anyway
but
I
am
counted
among
his
true
children
because
of
one
of
his
descendants
the
one
who
had
been
promised
right
from
the
beginning
Jesus
Christ
because
as we're
thinking
this
morning
as we
think
about
every
week
and
we'll
especially
be
focusing
in on
in the
next
couple
of
weeks
it's
because
of
him
because
of
his
sacrifice
for
us
that
we
can
experience
this
grace
that
we
are
brought
into
this
family
it's
because
the
son
of
God
stooped
down
to
become
the
son
of
Abraham
to
identify
himself
with
his
brothers
to
become
both
our
great
high
priest
and
our
sacrificial
lamb
that
we are
here
today
it's
because
of him
that
we find
grace
whether
we are
stumbling
believers
whether
we are
unbelievers
whether
we feel
ourselves
to be
rejects
he
came
and
he
lived
among
us
he
became
like
us
in
everything
except
sin
he
went
about
rejected
by
his
own
people
and
he
died
for
them
and
he
graciously
walks
with
us
every
day
all
afternoon
I've
been
listening
to
one
hymn
over
and
over
again
as
performed
by a
multitude
of
different
singers
choirs
etc
earlier
we
sang
a
modern
take
on
it
to
just
want
to
finish
with
this
I
need
thee
every
hour
most
gracious
Lord
no
tender
voice
like
thine
can
peace
afford
I
need
thee
every
hour
stay
thou
nearby
temptations
lose
their
power
when
thou
art
nigh
I
need
thee
every
hour
in
joy
or
pain
come
quickly
and
abide
or
life
is
vain
I
need
thee
oh
I
need
thee
every
hour
I
need
thee
oh
bless
me
now
my
saviour
I
come
to
thee
amen