1. Welcome to our service Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk

2. Genesis 20: the place of compromise

3. Left Mamre The place of strength Between Kadesh Holy And Shur A desert, a barren place or a place fortified or divided by a wall And settled in Gerar Drag away or lodging place for a stranger – connotations of fear

4. Genesis 20: the place of compromise Abraham went from a place of strength to a place between holiness and barrenness and lodged or fortified himself there James 1 Trials should be welcomed Received with faith and trust Double-mindedness prevents us from receiving from God We therefore lodge in the place between holiness and barrenness It is here that Abraham repeats the folly of Chapter 12 Proverbs 26 verse 11 2 peter 2 v 22 Dogs and their vomit and washed sows returning to the mire

5. Genesis 20: the place of compromise The context from later in the chapter God’s judgement is on the house The wombs are closed There are no children Enter God into Abimelech’s dream world to tell him, “You are a dead man!” The protestations of the godless “I did this out of the integrity of my heart” Never mind that you just took her to join a harem (its self something only a godless man would have)

6. Genesis 20: the place of compromise God’s response: I prevented you from sinning against me If you do sin against me you and all with you will die Abraham is a prophet – he will pray for you and you will live God did not look for a new cast Abraham did not cease from being a prophet because of his foolishness The gifts and callings of god are irrevocable Romans 11 v 29

7. Genesis 20: the place of compromise What have you done? Always difficult when the unsaved and unrighteous call you out for being worse than them! Abraham’s embarrassment shows in his explanation Explains the half truth Explains the ‘family tradition’ Yet Abimelech still treats Abraham as God’s chosen man Gives gifts Gives privileges

8. Genesis 20: the place of compromise Sarcasm expressed to Sarah “Your Brother” 100 pieces of silver – a gift intended to confirm Sarah’s innocence and to compensate her (and Abraham) A means of vindication A covering of the eyes (all married women were supposed to wear a veil) Reprove or correct can also mean acquit or justify It was an admonition to behave married in future

9. Genesis 20: the place of compromise The recognition of God’s servant Dwell in my land Accept my gifts Pray for me God confirmed Abraham’s status by healing Abimelech, his wife and his female servants Sarah was to bring forth the son of promise She may have already been pregnant with Isaac at this time Jeremiah 1 v 12 – God watches over His word to perform it.

10. Genesis 20: the place of compromise In watching over His word He fulfils prophecy He protects His servants He extends grace to us in times of weakness and sin He remains faithful to us despite our faithlessness He uses us to touch the unsaved He owns us and lets that be known He humbles us He exalts us Why? For the sake of His holy name (Ezekiel 36 v 22)

11. Welcome to our service Teaching the “whole council of God” (Acts 20:27) Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk