I think the whole story of Abraham (Abram) repeatedly telling people he was staying with that Sarah (Sarai) was his sister shows us that even Abraham, one of the “founding fathers,” was not without sin. He took (as you said) matters into his own hands for self-protection / self-preservation. I think it is a reminder that God doesn’t choose us based on our merit but based on his foresight and goodness. He knows whether we will respond to Him in faith or ultimately reject His call on our lives. Over and over Abraham and Sarah demonstrate a lack of faith yet God is faithful and maintains His promises to them. Clearly the Lord’s grace is not given to us based on our character or actions.

I also found it interesting that God calls Isaac Abraham’s “your son, your only son” in Genesis 22:2 when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son (again in 22:12, 16). God called Ishmael “the boy” in Genesis 21:12, 17 and “the son of the slave woman” in 21:13. God’s plan never changed even though Abraham tried to chart his own course and solve the problem his own way. Even though God’s plan still came to fruition, Abraham’s disobedience did have long-term consequences of bringing about thousands of years of strife and violence between the sons of Isaac and the sons of Ishmael who are both fighting for their claim on the holy land. We would be wise to be conscious of the fact that when we disobey the consequences may be enormously more than we had ever imagined. We don’t need to “help God out.” He has everything under control. All we need to do is ask Him what he wants us to do and listen when He tells us.

In that same story, I can imagine that Abraham felt like he “finally” learned to trust God after Isaac was born. I can imagine Abraham being blown away by God’s faithfulness to provide a son through his legitimate wife. We know that Abraham had his doubts because he laughed at the idea and questioned whether God would really give Abraham his own son (Gen 17:17). I can hear Abraham thinking to himself, “God wants me to sacrifice my son, but I know that God will make a way for His promise to come to fruition in His own way and in His own time… I’m just going to obey Him no matter how crazy this looks from the outside.”

I also love the story of Abraham’s servant finding Rebekah. God is good and God’s plan is perfect. I pray that we would all hear Him clearly in all that He tells us, that there would be no room for doubt, and that we would obey. Even though Abraham doubted, questioned, and tried to disobey, God’s plan still happened. Amen!

Just had an idea… I could go through the New Testament on my blog (I’d have some catching up to do)… but maybe it would be helpful to exposit both testaments at the same time since people are reading both. I know you’re going to write about the NT when you get there, so how do you feel about that? Not that you can’t do the NT when you get there… I need something to write about too! Then we just need to see if somebody wants to do Psalms.