(God’s intervention to deliver Sarah (Gn 20:3-18) and Abraham became a father of Isaac at last (Gn 21:1-7) Asghar What is the theological significance of this event? These sandwiched-plot-episodes (Gn 12:1-13:2; 18-21) emphasize God’s special favor for his covenant partners even when they fall into dangerous situations. The Lord’s showing partiality for Abraham is apparent even though he is accused of poor morality by pagan kings (cf. Roop 1987:103). In reverse this may demonstrate an important lesson about God’s administration over fulfilling His plan of salvation. The Lord chose Abraham who was a weak person, not a perfect one, not as an ideal character such as is found in heroic tales (cf. Gn 11:27-32; Dt 7:7; 9:4-6; Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ec 7; 20; Hartley 1995:138). Therefore, the Lord shows his mercifulness and long patience in making a father of faith or new priest nation for the whole world (Gn 12:1-3; Dt 9:4-6). The story apparently shows that Abraham could not attain security by his own performance (meritorious good behavior): only God could save under such circumstances
