DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 46
G enesis 22
28
Abraham’s Covenant with Abimelech
22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit
Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,”
Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive
me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now
swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living
as a foreigner.”
24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 25 Then Abraham complained to
Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from
Abraham’s servants.
26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea
who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.”
27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech,
and they made a treaty. 28 But Abraham also took seven additional female
lambs and set them off by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you
set these seven apart from the others?”
30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 31 Then he named the place Beersheba (which
means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath.
32 After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol,
the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Phi
listines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he
worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God.* 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner
in Philistine country for a long time.
Abraham’s Faith Tested
Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.
“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only s
on—yes, Isaac, whom you love so m
uch—and
go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of
the mountains, which I will show you.”
3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took
two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped
wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told
him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw
the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the
servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there,
and then we will come right back.”
6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders,
while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked
on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep
for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham
built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and
laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife
22
21:33 Hebrew El-Olam.
