Women of Note in the Old Testament
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But this concealment of the real relation between them was de-
ception. No deviation from strict integrity can meet God’s approval.
Through Abraham’s lack of faith, Sarah was placed in great peril. The
king of Egypt, being informed of her beauty, caused her to be taken to
his palace, intending to make her his wife. But the Lord, in His great
mercy, protected Sarah by sending judgments upon the royal house-
hold. By this means the monarch learned the truth in the matter, and,
indignant at the deception practiced upon him, he reproved Abraham
and restored to him his wife, saying, “What is this that thou hast done
unto me? ... Why saidst thou, She is my sister? So I might have taken
her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy
way”....
Abraham returned to Canaan “very rich in cattle, in silver, and
in gold.” Lot was still with him, and again they came to Bethel, and
pitched their tents by the altar which they had before erected....
In a vision of the night the divine Voice was again heard. “Fear
not, Abram” were the words of the Prince of princes; “I am thy shield,
and thy exceeding great reward.” But his mind was so oppressed by
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forebodings that he could not now grasp the promise with unquestion-
ing confidence as heretofore. He prayed for some tangible evidence
that it would be fulfilled. And how was the covenant promise to be
realized, while the gift of a son was withheld? “What wilt thou give
me,” he said, “seeing I go childless?” “And, lo, one born in my house
is mine heir.” He proposed to make his trusty servant Eliezer his son by
adoption, and the inheritor of his possessions. But he was assured that
a child of his own was to be his heir. Then he was led outside his tent,
and told to look up to the unnumbered stars glittering in the heavens;
and as he did so, the words were spoken, “So shall thy seed be.” “Abra-
ham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
....
Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but
he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way.
A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he
failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should
be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the
divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should
be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Polygamy had become so
widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no