Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful that we can imagine or comprehend.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot’s family so vividly illustrates.

Divine messengers come to Abram’s home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Divine messengers come to Abram’s home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God’s timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God’s agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.