Yahweh Promised To Open Sarah's Womb

Genesis 17:15-21 reads,

17:15God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 17:16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her."

17:17Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?" 17:18Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"

17:19God said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. 17:20As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 17:21But my covenant I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time in the next year."

Isn't it clear that it is indeed Yahweh who facilitates a woman conceiving, bearing and giving birth? Didn't Yahweh make clear that he would facilitate Sarah conceiving, bearing and giving birth even though she was 90 years old and her husband 100 years old? Doesn't Yahweh have power to facilitate conception, bearing and giving birth even to human beings who have apparently lost the ability to conceive, bear and give birth? Isn't Yahweh the Omnipotent One - the All-Powerful One?

 

Yahweh Reiterated His Promise To Make Sarah Fruitful

Genesis 18:9-15 reads,

18:9They said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?

He said, "See, in the tent."

18:10He said, "I will certainly return to you when the season comes round. Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son."

Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. 18:11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. It had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 18:12Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

18:13Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child, yet I am old?’ 18:14Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son."

18:15Then Sarah denied, saying, "I didn’t laugh," for she was afraid."

He said, "No, but you did laugh."

 

Nothing Is Too Hard For Yahweh

Is anything too hard for Yahweh? Doesn't Yahweh show that nothing is too hard for him? Doesn't he show that he is capable of doing even what is apparently impossible, even facilitate the conception, bearing and giving birth of humans apparently past that phase in their lives?

 

It Is A Pleasure To Conceive, Bear And Give Birth To A Child

Don't Sarah's words in 18:12 show that it is indeed a pleasure to conceive, bear and give birth to a child?

Why is it that some humans think it not a pleasure to conceive, bear and give birth? Why is it that some human beings act to prevent their receipt of the pleasure of conception, bearing and giving birth?

 

The Sexual Wickedness Of The Men Of Sodom

Genesis 19:1-17 reads,

19:1The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, 19:2and he said, "See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you will rise up early, and go on your way."

They said, "No, but we will stay in the street all night."

19:3He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 19:4But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 19:5They called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them."

19:6Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him. 19:7He said, "Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly. 19:8See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and do you to them as is good in your eyes. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof."

19:9They said, "Stand back!" They said, "This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!" They pressed hard on the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door. 19:10But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 19:11They struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

19:12The men said to Lot, "Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 19:13for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is grown great before Yahweh. Yahweh has sent us to destroy it."

19:14Lot went out, and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, "Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city."

But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking. 19:15When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, "Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city." 19:16But he lingered; and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city. 19:17It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, "Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, neither stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed!"

 

The Men Of Sodom Sought To Sexually Defile The Angels And Lot

Isn't it the case that the two angels who came to Sodom looked like men?

Isn't it clear that the men of Sodom sought to sexually defile the angels who looked like men through homosexuality? Isn't it also clear that they also sought to sexually defile Lot through homosexuality?

 

Homosexuality Is Very Wicked, Worse Than Adultery

Isn't it clear from Lots words in 19:7 that homosexuality is a very wicked deed? Didn't it also seem to Lot that homosexuality was a more wicked a deed than adultery? For wasn't he prepared to give his two virgin daughters, already pledged as wives though not yet married, to the wicked homosexual Sodomites rather than see the angels sexually defiled?

 

In-Law Relationships Are Created Prior To Marriage

Isn't it clear that in-law relationships are created prior to marriage, seeing that Lot had sons-in-law, pledged to marry his virgin daughters? Isn't it therefore clear that a woman indeed becomes a man's wife prior to her marriage - prior to the time she is to loose her virginity in sex with her husband? Doesn't it seem clear that a woman becomes a man's wife at the time that she is pledged to him as his wife - at betrothal? And isn't the one who pledges her as a man's wife her parents, the ones with authority over her? Therefore isn't it clear that a woman becomes a man's wife at the time her parents pledge her to a man to be his wife, even though she may still be a virgin?

 

When A Woman Becomes A Man's Wife

Isn't it clear from Genesis 2:24 that a man is to leave his parents and sexually join with his wife, implying that the woman he sexually joins with is already his wife at the time of that sexual union? Isn't it now seen that she becomes his wife at the time her parents pledge her to him, even while she is still living with her parents? Doesn't she become married to him at the time she is released from her parents household for marriage, at the time of sexual union with her husband pledged to marry her? Isn't it clear then that a woman becomes a man's wife when her parents pledge her to him as his wife, but is only married when she is released for marriage and has sex with her husband, the man pledged to marry her? Isn't it therefore clear that a man is to have sex only with a woman who is his wife - a woman pledged to him for marriage in their first sexual union, and subsequently with that woman after their first sexual union - their marriage?

 

Abimelech Unwittingly Took Another Man's Wife

Genesis 20 reads,

20:1Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He sojourned in Gerar. 20:2Abraham said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 20:3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a man’s wife."

20:4Now Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation? 20:5Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."

20:6God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 20:7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours."

20:8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!" 20:10Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you have done this thing?"

20:11Abraham said, "Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ 20:12Moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. 20:13It happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, "He is my brother."’"

20:14Abimelech took sheep and oxen, men-servants and women-servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife to him. 20:15Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you." 20:16To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated."

20:17Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and they bore children. 20:18For Yahweh had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

 

Yahweh Punished Abimelech And His Household For Taking Another Man's Wife

Isn't it clear that Yahweh punished Abimelech and his household for his having taken another man's wife as his own wife, even though he had yet to sexually lie with her? Isn't it also clear that Yahweh's penalty upon Abimelech and his household would have been death if he had not restored Sarah to her rightful husband? In other words, isn't the penalty for adultery - taking another man's wife as one's own and sexually lying with her - death?

 

Guilt Is Borne Even For Unwitting Sin

Isn't it clear that Abimelech sinned unwittingly, seeing that he did not know that Sarah was another man's wife? Isn't it also clear that even though a person sins unwittingly he still bears the penalty for that sin?

 

Adultery Is Sin Against Yahweh

Isn't it clear from Yahweh's word in 20:6 that taking another man's wife as your own is sin against Yahweh?

 

Yahweh Prevented Abimelech From Fully Sinning Against Yahweh

Isn't it also clear from Yahweh's word in 20:6-7 that he prevented Abimelech from sinning against him, by not allowing him to sexually touch Sarah? Isn't it the case that Abimelech was not aware of Yahweh's command to him not to sexually touch Sarah prior to his conversation with Yahweh in the dream? Doesn't this show that sometimes Yahweh permits us or prevents us from taking courses of action without our being consciously aware of his word to us in those situations?

 

Two Sins Involved In Abimelech Taking Another Man's Wife As His

Doesn't it appear that there were two sins involved in the matter of Abimelech and Sarah? Wasn't the first sin that Abimelech committed, the lesser sin, that of taking another man's wife as his own? Wasn't the second sin, the greater sin, which Abimelech did not commit because Yahweh prevented him from so committing, that of sexually lying with another man's wife?

 

Repent Of Your Sin Once You Become Aware Of It

Doesn't Yahweh show that once a person becomes aware of his sin he should repent of it, by making reparations for the sin? Didn't Abimelech duly pay appropriate reparations to Abraham, against whom he had sinned on account of taking his wife Sarah as his own wife?

 

Yahweh's Servants Should Pray For Repentant Sinners

Doesn't Yahweh also show that his servants should pray for repentant sinners, that Yahweh might heal them of the consequences of their sins? Didn't Abraham duly pray for Abimelech?

 

Make Appropriate Disclosure To Prevent Unwitting Sin

Doesn't the encounter between Abimelech and Abraham show that to prevent a person committing sin appropriate disclosure of the circumstances of a situation should be made? Such as disclosing to other men that a particular woman is indeed wife to a man, that each such man may desist from sexually lying with her?

 

Yahweh Punished Abimelech And His Household With Barrenness

Isn't it clear that for Abimelech's sin of taking another man's wife as his own Yahweh made barren both Abimelech and his household - his wife and his maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that a person's sin can indeed bring about a curse affecting not just that sinner, but also his entire household?

Did Yahweh punish Abimelech's wife and maidservants (concubines) because they were one flesh with Abimelech, and therefore one entity as far as Yahweh was concerned?

 

Barrenness Is A Curse For Sexual Sin

Isn't it clear that barrenness is a curse that Yahweh has inflicted upon a household that has sexually sinned against him? Isn't it therefore the case that the barrenness suffered by some people arises on account of sexual sin in their family?

 

Yahweh Reproved Abimelech For Adultery, Not For Polygyny

Isn't it clear that Yahweh did not reprove Abimelech for taking an additional wife, seeing that he already had his own wife and maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that the reproof was for adultery - taking another man's wife as his own, and not for polygyny - taking more than one woman as one's wife? Isn't it clear that polygyny is not adultery?

 

Do Not Condemn What Yahweh Has Not Condemned?

Why do human beings condemn those who practise polygyny when Yahweh does not condemn them? Why do human beings call polygyny sin yet Yahweh does not call polygyny sin?

 

Did Not Yahweh Concur With Abimelech That Polygyny Is Part Of Righteousness?

Isn't it clear that when Abimelech called his nation a righteous nation Yahweh did not dispute this word of Abimelech? Isn't it clear that at this time Abimelech was indeed practising polygyny, having a wife and maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that while Abimelech understood adultery to be a great sin, he understood polygyny not to be sin, seeing that the women he sexually took to himself were not the wives of other men?

 

Follow Yahweh's Example Concerning Polygyny

Shouldn't we follow Yahweh's example, of not condemning those who practise polygyny? Shouldn't we accept that polygyny is indeed within the bounds of Yahweh's word, and is therefore not sin?

 

Ascertain That A Woman Is Free For Marriage Before Taking Her As Your Wife

Shouldn't we also, learning from Abimelech's example, take precautions before taking a woman as a wife or otherwise taking her sexually? Shouldn't we first ascertain that she is not a man's wife, checking with a person in authority over her, or otherwise privy to the information? And where we cannot find a human in such stead, shouldn't we seek Yahweh and obtain from him both the answer and his will for us in that matter?

 

Yahweh Fulfilled His Promise Of Making Sarah Fruitful

Genesis 21:1-7 reads,

21:1Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. 21:2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 21:3Abraham called his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 21:4Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 21:5Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. 21:6Sarah said, "God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me." 21:7She said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."

Didn't Yahweh fulfil his word to Abraham and Sarah? Didn't Yahweh show that he indeed is the one who facilitates conception, bearing and giving birth?

 

Rely On Yahweh In Matters Of Human Fruitfulness

Shouldn't we rely on Yahweh in matters of conception, bearing and giving birth, rather than take matters into our own hands? Shouldn't we allow Yahweh to give us the pleasure arising out of conception, bearing and giving birth at his own appointed times, rather than at times we in our puny wisdom think fit?

 

Hagar's House Separated From Sarah's House

Genesis 21:8-14 reads,

21:8The child grew, and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 21:9Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 21:10Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this handmaid and her son! For the son of this handmaid will not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."

21:11The thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight on account of his son. 21:12God said to Abraham, "Don’t let it be grievous in your sight because of the boy, and because of your handmaid. In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice. For from Isaac will your seed be called. 21:13Also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is your seed." 21:14Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

 

Behave Properly Towards Those Yahweh Has Blessed

Isn't it the case that Ishmael's mocking behaviour triggered the timing of his banishment from his father's household? Shouldn't human beings behave properly to those whom Yahweh has blessed?

 

Yahweh Commanded Abraham To Listen To His Wife's Voice

Didn't Yahweh command Abraham to listen to the voice of his wife Sarah in all that Sarah had said? Doesn't this show that it is not necessarily wrong for a husband to listen to the voice of his wife? Doesn't this show that it is only wrong for a husband to listen to the voice of his wife if her word is contrary to Yahweh's word? But where her word is in harmony with Yahweh's word isn't it indeed right for him to listen to her, even as Yahweh commanded Abraham? Didn't Yahweh ratify Sarah's word, showing that the reason Sarah gave for her word was in harmony with Yahweh's word?

 

It Is Sometimes Necessary To Banish An Errant Family Member

Doesn't Abraham's example show us that when a family member behaves inappropriately it is sometimes necessary to send that member away from the household? Doesn't this imply that all family members should behave in a manner in harmony with Yahweh's word?

 

Abraham And Sarah Dwelt Apart At The Time Of Sarah's Death

Genesis 13:18 reads,

13:18Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh.

Genesis 22:19 reads,

22:19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Genesis 23:1-2 reads,

23:1Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years. These were the years of Sarah’s life. 23:2Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Genesis 23:19 reads,

23:19After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 24:67 reads,

24:67Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 35:27 reads,

35:27Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.

Isn't it clear that Abraham at one time lived in Hebron, also known as Kiriath-arba? Isn't it also clear that at another time he also lived in Beersheba, subsequent to having lived at Hebron? Isn't it also clear that Sarah his wife continued to live in Hebron, and even died in Hebron, her tent being in Hebron, even where her son continued to live? Isn't it therefore clear that at the time of her death Abraham and Sarah were living apart, with Sarah living in Hebron and Abraham living in Beersheba? Didn't Abraham journey from his dwelling place in Beersheba to go to mourn for his wife Sarah in Hebron?

Why were Abraham and Sarah living apart at around the time of Sarah's death? Why did Abraham have another dwelling place in Beersheba, in addition to his dwelling place with Sarah in Hebron?

 


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