Today is the 9th day of January. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is

wonderful to be here squarely in the second week of a brand new sparkly year. So we are

moving through our second full week in the Bible. And as I was yesterday I was thinking, I was

talking about looking back and seeing just how far we've come already. And how much the Bible has

already begun to touch the places in our lives and give us clarity and direction. And so I'm grateful

that we can be here together today around the global count fire and take the next step forward

together. Our next step leads us back into the book of Genesis, back into the story of Abraham.

Today Genesis chapters 20, 21 and 22. Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the

Nagav and lived between Kadesh and Sure. For a while he stayed in Arar. And there Abraham set

of his wife Sarah. She is my sister. Then Abimelek, King of Arar, sent for Sarah and took her.

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him,

you are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. She is a married woman.

Now Abimelek had not gone near her. So he said, Lord will you destroy an innocent nation?

Did he not say to me, she is my sister? And didn't she also say he is my brother?

I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.

And God said to him in the dream, yes I know you did this with a clear conscience. And so I have

kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man's wife

for he is a prophet and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her,

you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.

Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials and when he told them all that

had happened they were very much afraid. Then Abimelek called Abraham and said, what have you done

to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom?

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