There is no doubt that our unfaithfulness will never change God's faithfulness. To be saved and anointed is man's guarantee for a blessed life , no matter who is against you. Abraham enjoyed grace though he lived in the old testament;that's the benefit of salvation. Are you saved? Genesis 20 is an explicit new testament revelation.
The more I understand or think I do Genesis, I do not. Why was it so exceptable to have so many wives and be an adultor with maid servants, sleep with your father, allow your wife to be had by another man, etc. etc.?
Indeed God is ever faithful despite of our unfaithfulness to Him..Nevertheless, everyday is a chance He gave for us to be faithful to Him & to trust in Him. In this chapter, I have seen how God has been faithful to Abraham. God's favor to Abraham is such an inspiration. To God be the glory!
I posted a reply in the last couple of days that did not appear. First of all, I am glad you are studying the Word of God. These debates are good, but I would not want to be a stumbling block to anyone. The main focus of the Bible is Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross. We as lost sinners need a redeemer.
In regard to the Genesis account, I accept what is stated in the Bible. We should not indulge in speculation. Since the Mosaid laws were handed down, it would be unthinkable for a brother and sister to have a sexual union. If there were other people already on the earth, then I don't understand why God would have had to create Eve especcially for Adam ( Gen. 2:20). I don't understand why it was permitted for Adam's sons to marry into those other people if it wasn't okay for Adam. But, be that as it may, we do see later on that Abraham married a half sister, Sarai ( Genesis 20:12). This was not an isolated incident of close kin marrying.
Keep on studying the Word!
In Genesis 3:20 it says that Eve was the mother of all living. I have heard of the theory of a "first creation " in the first chapter of Genesis and respectfully submit that since the Bible is silent on that subject that we should not speculate. Later on, before the Mosaic laws are given out, we read of other Bible couples that would seem to be incestuous, Abram married to his half sister Sarai ( Genesis 20:12,) their son Isaac married to a cousin, Rebekah ( Genesis 24, 25,) their son Jacob (Israel) married to cousins Leah and Rachel. We have to remember that Adam and Eve were perfectly created beings so the gene pool was perfect; as sin entered the world over time man's genes became less perfect. By the time Moses' law came around, God made it clear to His people that he wanted the practice of in-family sexual relationships to cease. God is good! Hope this helps, Trent, or anyone else interested in this subject:)
This, along with an earlier chapter when Sarai tried to take matters into her own hands so Abram could have a son, really brings me back to the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, the wisdom of man vs. the wisdom of God. What an example of what can happen when you lean on your own understanding instead of just trusting in the Lord. It is so easy to get caught up in trying to figure out worldly ways to fix worldly problems. But how much easier is it to simply release your problems, give them to God through prayer and supplication. How much easier is it to simply make the most of the life God has given you, through both pitfalls and opportunities, and let Him lead you to your divine destiny. See...This is why it is so important to stay in the word. Had I not read this tonight, I would not have even thought to turn away from my own desire to take so many of my own matters into my own hands, as I have already been doing. The word always seems to have the answers we need the most right when we need them. Isn't that just like God?!
In regard to the Genesis account, I accept what is stated in the Bible. We should not indulge in speculation. Since the Mosaid laws were handed down, it would be unthinkable for a brother and sister to have a sexual union. If there were other people already on the earth, then I don't understand why God would have had to create Eve especcially for Adam ( Gen. 2:20). I don't understand why it was permitted for Adam's sons to marry into those other people if it wasn't okay for Adam. But, be that as it may, we do see later on that Abraham married a half sister, Sarai ( Genesis 20:12). This was not an isolated incident of close kin marrying.
Keep on studying the Word!