Because of Sarah

by Rev Greg Obong-Oshotse 14 August 2020

Text: Zechariah 2:8 “. . . he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”

11.15am, Sunday 28 June 1914. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, are shot dead by a Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip. Backed by Germany, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia a month later. Russia and its ally, France, support Serbia. Germany declares war on Russia on 1 August, and France on 3 August. Britain, dragging its empire along, comes into the war the next day. For the next four years these powers clash and roll in blood, mud and gore, in part because of the Archduke.

In our reading, God brings severe judgement against King Abimelech of Gerar and his entire household. He shuts the wombs of all the women in his palace, his wife included, because of Sarah. God is protecting His servant Abraham with whom He has entered a perpetual covenant. Abraham will be the father and founder of a new nation from which will emerge the Messiah, the Son of God. By that covenant, Abraham becomes the apple of His eye. To touch Sarah is to touch Abraham, and to touch God in a touching place. He is a Covenant-keeping God. His people are dear to His heart. He is faithful to His chosen ones. He will do everything needful to defend and protect them. God will also do whatever is needful in order that His plans and purposes for your life are fulfilled. That is non-negotiable.

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