In Genesis chapter 20 we read about Abraham lying to Avimelech regarding Sarah. Then in chapter 21 Avimelech comes back to Abraham, this time with the commander of his army to call Abraham out for his sin and to get an assurance from Abraham that he will not do it again.  After Abraham is humbled and promises not to do it again, Abraham uses this opportunity to call out a wrong that he feels Avimelech has done to him. Then the two of them go about making peace together through a covenant ceremony.

After 25 years of waiting for the son of promise to be born God finally fulfilled His oath to Abraham and Isaac was miraculously born to Sarah. Some thirteen to twenty years later when Isaac was at least in his teen years, God called Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son he loved.

Abraham and Sarah held a party celebrating that their miraculously born child, Isaac, was weaned. I am sure 90 year old Sarah was very thankful that day had finally arrived. Hagar, Sarah’s maid, and Ismael, the son she bore to Abraham, were at the party. Ismael was probably around 16 years of age at this point. During the party Ishmael showed his jealousy by mocking Isaac.

At the age of 90, after being promised by God a child for at least the previous 25 years, Sarah gave birth to a son. It was a miraculous occurrence like no other mentioned prior to God creating Adam from dust, and Eve from a rib. Sarah was beyond child bearing age. Thus for her to give birth to a child was nothing short of miraculous.

Sermon by Messianic Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky

For reasons not revealed, after being given the promise that in a year’s time Sarah will have a son, and after sodom & gommorah were destroyed, Abraham moved his caravan south near Gaza.

Abimelech was king in that area. Like Abraham did twenty years before, he lied (or half truthed) about Sarah being his sister. Abimelech took 90 year old Sarah as a wife.