Where Are You Looking for Security? | Genesis 20-21
Series: God's Promises, Our Journey
Title: "Where are you looking for security?"
Scripture: Genesis 20-21 NIV
Galatians 2-5
Bottom Line: Every time we feel insecure, we reach for control.
And every time we reach for control, we reveal what we really trust.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
NOTES
YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION
MAIN REFERENCES USED
My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.
OPENING STORY/ILLUSTRATION
Did you know you can insure your teeth and smile (Julia Roberts)… your hair Troy Palomalu)… even your taste buds (Gordon Ramsay)?
You can insure your wedding (rain), your golf shot (hole in one), even against alien abduction…
We laugh… but think about it—we are constantly trying to secure ourselves against what we cannot control.
And Genesis 20–21 shows us something uncomfortable…Abraham is doing the same thing.
CONTEXT
The thread is security:
Abraham seeks security through deception (Gen 20)
Abraham seeks security through control (Gen 21:1–21)
Abraham seeks security through agreements (Gen 21:22–34)
God shows that true security comes only from Him
OUTLINE (influenced by John Lennox & ChatGPT)
1. FALSE SECURITY: TRUSTING OUR OWN STRATEGIES (Gen 20:1–18)
2. PARTIAL SECURITY: TRUSTING GOD… BUT STILL CONTROLLING (Gen 21:1–21)
3. TEMPORARY SECURITY: TRUSTING HUMAN AGREEMENTS (Gen 21:22–34)
4. TRUE SECURITY: TRUSTING GOD ALONE (BRIDGE TO GENESIS 22)
Have you ever inflated your image or resume to look better? When we write a resume, we can get carried away over our accomplishments. Wording things to sound better than they really are.
And then there’s social media where we post pictures and poses of ourselves doing amazing things as if this is what our life is always like. We don’t usually post pics of ourselves in unflattering positions or looks. That may not be conscious but it easily could be in the back of our mind. It’s a fine line, right? What are our motives?
Not a full lie. Just a truth designed to make us look better than we are.
That’s kind of like what Abraham is doing here. Technically true but still deceptive.
And intentional—even strategic—deception is a sin. That’s the heart of what a lie is. Deception.
1. FALSE SECURITY: TRUSTING OUR OWN STRATEGIES (Gen 20:1–18)
Text movement:
Abraham repeats old sin (Gen 12 replay)
Lies about Sarah (half-truth still deception)
Abimelech acts with integrity (understood that Kings could take a woman)
God intervenes (Sovereign)
Key tension:
The man of faith still falls back into fear.
Key insight (pastoral):
Abraham is trying to protect the promise by human means
Fear makes us revert to old patterns
When we don’t feel secure in God’s promises, we start managing our journey ourselves.
Application/Diagnostic question:
Where do I bend truth, control perception, or manipulate situations to feel secure?
Bottom Line: Every time we feel insecure, we reach for control.
And every time we reach for control, we reveal what we really trust.
2. PARTIAL SECURITY: TRUSTING GOD… BUT STILL CONTROLLING (Gen 21:1–21)
Do you make “just in case” plans? Backup plans?
Do you have a financial emergency fund?
This can be a wise decision. But where is your ultimate financial security found? Are you trusting God with your finances? Are you generous with your finances or do you operate in fear of the future and lack generosity?
A. God keeps His promise (Isaac is born)
God is faithful
Laughter fulfilled (Sarah → joy)
B. Abraham expels Ishmael
Real tension: promise vs. threat
Abraham acts to “secure” Isaac’s future
Abraham removes perceived threats to secure the promise. (Lennox)
But God…
Sees Hagar
Provides a well
Keeps promise to Ishmael too
Key theological move:
God’s promise doesn’t depend on Abraham’s control
God cares for the “outsider” (Hagar/Ishmael)
Even when we try to secure God’s promises our way, God remains faithful to His purposes and our journey.
Application/Diagnostic question:
Where do I bend truth, control perception, or manipulate situations to feel secure?
Where am I trusting God—but still trying to control the outcome?
Bottom Line: Every time we feel insecure, we reach for control.
And every time we reach for control, we reveal what we really trust.
3. TEMPORARY SECURITY: TRUSTING HUMAN AGREEMENTS (Gen 21:22–34)
Contracts vs. Trust
We sign contracts because we don’t fully trust people
Prenups
Legal agreements
NDAs
“Agreements can create stability—but they can’t create ultimate security.”
Text movement:
Abimelech recognizes God is with Abraham (pattern continues throughout Genesis)
Covenant over wells
Beersheba established
Key idea:
This is not wrong—it’s just limited
Mutual security arrangements are still human-level solutions. (Lennox)
Key contrast:
This is horizontal security, not ultimate (vertical) security
“You can build agreements with people—but you cannot build ultimate security without God.”
Application/diagnostic questions:
Where do I bend truth, control perception, or manipulate situations to feel secure?
Where am I trusting God—but still trying to control the outcome?j
Where do I rely on relationships, systems, or resources as my ultimate safety?
Do people see that God is with you?
Bottom Line: Every time we feel insecure, we reach for control.
And every time we reach for control, we reveal what we really trust.
4. TRUE SECURITY: TRUSTING GOD ALONE (BRIDGE TO GENESIS 22)
This is where you preview without preaching Gen 22
The real test is: does Abraham’s security rest in God—or in Isaac? (Lennox)
Set it up like this:
Gen 20 → security through deception
Gen 21 → security through control and agreements
Gen 22 → God exposes the heart
“God will lovingly test whatever you trust most—because He wants to be your only true security.”
1. God’s faithfulness despite flawed faith
Abraham fails → God remains faithful
Strong gospel echo without forcing it
2. God sees the overlooked (Hagar)
Fits your church’s “best neighbors ever” vision
Missional application
3. Security vs. trust
Deeply relatable
Connects to anxiety, control, family, finances
CONCLUSION
Bottom Line: Every time we feel insecure, we reach for control.
And every time we reach for control, we reveal what we really trust.
“You can insure almost anything in this life…
but there is no policy that can secure your soul.
Only God can do that.”
Pray
Questions (Write this down) - grab an index card and pen
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Write this down on the index card in the seat pockets.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Read the passage together.
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
NOTES
YOUTUBE DESCRIPTION
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt
The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris
The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
"Genesis" by Briscoe (TCC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)