Soon after the destruction of Sod'om and the other cities of the Jor'dan plain A'bra-ham removed from that part of the land and settled in a place called Ge'rar, in the southwestern part of Ca'naan near the great sea. This land was occupied by a strong, war-like people known as Phi-lis-tines, and their king was named A-bim'e-lech. Although it had been twenty-four years since A'bra-ham had misrepresented his wife as his sister in order to protect her from the king of Egypt, the reproach which he suffered on that occasion should have remained fresh in his memory. Out of fear of A-bim'e-lech, however, A'bra-ham was guilty once again of the same deception.
Just as the deception planned by A'bra-ham had failed once before, so it failed again. A-bim'e-lech had decided to take Sa'rah as one of his wives, But before he was able to carry out his plan the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, warning him not to take Sa'rah because she was the wife of A'bra-ham. A-bim'e-lech then called A'bra-ham into his presence, bestowed rich presents and grants of land, and asked that the prophet of God pray for him. Both A'bra-ham and Sa'rah stood severely reproached before God, in which state they humbly accepted the thanks of the heathen king and made their home within his country.
In answer to a special prayer of intercession by A'bra-ham the Lord healed A-bim'e-lech and his family of a serious ailment, and blessed them with many children. A-bim'e-lech then bestowed still greater favors upon A'bra-ham, who was also blessed more and more by the Lord until he became very prosperous and highly regarded in the land of Ge'rar.
Some months after A'bra-ham's removal to this part of Ca'naan the promised son was born to Sa'rah, and he was called I'saac as previously directed by the Angel of God. His birth was regarded by all as no ordinary work of nature, but as the direct result of God's mercy. It was also accepted as a mark of Divine preference, and as a prophecy of the future greatness of A'bra-ham's descendants. The miraculous birth was also the reward of faith, for A'bra-ham and Sa'rah had believed in God against all human hope. Although their faith had been severely tried by long waiting and natural difficulties, it was fully rewarded in God's good time and His own marvelous way.
