[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Here we see the Lord overiding the will (the sinful desires) of a pagan (Abimilech) to keep him from sin. I welcome such violation of my "free-choice" by God!!!

Uhhhh..... Rochester......

One minor point of inquiry... why are you reading "pagan" into the passage?? While we read about God overriding Abimelech's choices, there's nothing about Abimelech being a "pagan" in the passage.

It's true that Abimelech was King over the Philistines of Gerar at that point in time, but the Scripture does not indicate that by this time the Philistines of Gerar had descended into Paganism. Remember, Abraham lived in very great antiquity, only about four to six centuries after the Flood... it is entirely possible that many peoples had not yet completely abandoned the Faith of Noah by this early stage in history. The Bible certainly suggests that the Philistines of Gerar, at this time, were still at least nominally believers in the Faith of Noah:

But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

I don't see anything about Abimelech and the Philistines of Gerar being "pagans" (at this point in history) in this passage. If I have missed it, you are welcome to point it out to me; but I don't think that we should be reading "pagan" into the passage if it is not there.

[xzins]

I don't see anything about Abimelech and the Philistines of Gerar being "pagans" (at this point in history) in this passage. If I have missed it, you are welcome to point it out to me; but I don't think that we should be reading "pagan" into the passage if it is not there.

We are in the middle of studying Genesis in our church.

OP is entirely correct. In fact, by the chronologies given in Genesis, Shem, Noah's son, is still living at the time Abe goes to Gerar.

[RochesterFan]

I don't see anything about Abimelech and the Philistines of Gerar being "pagans" (at this point in history) in this passage.

Point well taken.