Genesis 20 opens with another situation where Abraham tries to pass his wife Sarah off as his sister for his own preservation. When will he ever learn? God confronts King Abimelech with the fact that he is about to get not only himself but his whole country in trouble because he iw taking up with a married woman. King Abimelech pleads that he has as yet done nothing wrong, and God acknowledges that is true and He is keeping the king from sinning. God ten tells the king to let them go without doing them harm and Abraham would pray for him.

Abimelech confronts Abraham and we learn the reason he keeps calling Sarah his sister. She, in fact is his half-sister being his father’s daughter. Abraham said he thought that this was the best way save his life by telling a half-truth. Lying by omission is a pretty common practice. We figure that if at least the part that we share is the truth then it is all right to hide the whole truth. We try to protect ourselves from the consequences of what the whole truth might bring. In Abraham’s case, he is still trusting in his own cunning to get him through. God calls him to account by letting the king know the truth, but God also provides protection. One would think that eventually Abraham would figure this out. Time will only tell. Abimelech lets Abraham go. Abraham prays for Abimelech and God blesses him.

In Genesis 21 Sarah finally conceives and bear a son that they name Isaac, just as God had said. Isaac was circumcised on the eighth day in accordance with his covenant with God.

Even though God had blessed Sarah, she still was jealous of Hagar and Ishmael. She forces Abraham to cast them out into the wilderness. Abraham does not want to do this, but God promises to take care of them and to fulfill His promise that Ishmael will also father a great nation. God takes care of Hagar and Ishmael and he thrives.

Abimelech and Abraham have a brief conflict over a well, but they resolve it with a covenant and Abraham continues to reside in the land of the Philistines.

In Matthew 8, Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount and comes down mountain. A man with leprosy asked to be healed. Leprosy was the name given to a variety of skin conditions. Lepers were considered contagious and so were outcasts in society. They could get no work and because they were considered unclean they could not worship in the temple. Jesus healed him and has him go to the priest with an offering of praise and ritual cleansing.

A Roman centurion comes to Jesus and asks him to heal a sick servant. Jesus offers to come to his house but the centurion says that Jesus merely needs speak the healing word and it will happen. Jesus commends him on his faith, which is greater than many of his followers. He tells his followers that even those outside of Israel will believe and be saved while many from Israel will not believe.

As Jesus enters Peter’s house he finds Peter’s mother-in-law ill with a fever. He touches her and she is well enough to serve him. Many are brought to him for healing.

Jesus and his disciples get ready to cross the Sea of Galilee. While they are going to the shore he encounters a scribe who wants to follow him. Jesus answers that if he were to follow he would have to give up his home. A follower of Jesus wanted to come later after burying his father and Jesus said he must follow now.  He wanted everyone to understand the cost of discipleship.

As Jesus and his disciples cross the sea they encounter a storm. Jesus sleeps through the storm. The disciples wake him and beg him to save them. Jesus chides them for their lack of faith and calms the storm.

Finally, when they reach the other side, Jesus meets to men who are possessed by demons. The demons recognize him and beg him to leave them alone. He casts them into a herd of swine that run into the sea and drown. The swineherds run off into the town and tell everyone what has happened. The townspeople beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.

All of these situations deal with faith. As we encounter Jesus we may respond as any one of these people. We may fervently believe and accept his word for us or a touch of his hand. We may make excuses for why we cannot follow at this time. We may not trust when we find ourselves in trouble; either we will be like Abraham and take things into our own hands or like the disciples and worry and fret over our situation instead of trusting His presence to see us through. We may be afraid of Jesus’ power and ask him to leave us alone. We must decide how we will receive him.