Read: Genesis 20:1-21:7 NLT – Abraham Deceives Abimelech – Abraham – Bible Gateway
“Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, ‘She is my sister.’ So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.” Genesis 20:2 NLT
Abraham, the man of faith, the one known as a friend of God, becomes Abraham a deceiver once again. The story of Abraham should bring us all comfort to see one of the great icons of faith in the Bible had their failures too. Abraham was human and being human had a sin nature and having a sin nature would fall into sin on occasion. Today’s story is such an occasion.
After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham knew his nephew Lot was spared and he decided to move towards the south and dwell between Gaza and the Mediterranean coast settling in the town of Gerar. Abraham did not learn his lesson from twenty-five years earlier repeating his same sin of deception. “While living there as a foreigner, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, ‘She is my sister.’ So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace (Gen.20:1-2 nlt) We sometimes today find ourselves as time passes either forgetting or disregarding our past sins that got us into trouble. Abraham’s in good company, but of course it doesn’t excuse it.
Abraham’s main problem was his moment of faithlessness in God’s protection. He had just witnessed God answering his prayer in saving Lot but failed to recognize He could do the same for him. He was afraid as he was in Egypt that he would be killed for his wife. What Abraham told King Abimelech was partly true meaning it was also partly false. As in Genesis 12 Abraham told Pharoah the same half-truth. Abraham and Sarah were siblings who had the same father, but different mothers.
The expected did happen. Abraham did not die and Sarah was taken. But God intervened and came to King Abimelech in a dream telling him that Sarah is a married woman. God said that he would die along with all his people if Sarah was not return to her husband. Abimelech earnestly pleaded his innocence which the Lord was already aware of and He said, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.” (Gen.20:6 nlt) God was the one who kept Sarah pure by His hand of grace keeping the king at bay. The promised child of the covenant that was to come through Abraham could have been compromised, a thought that should have come to Abraham’s mind when Abimelech took her.
Abimelech didn’t waste any time. “Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified.” (Gen.20:8 nlt) The people of the Near East, although heathen, considered adultery a great sin. They wanted this problem rectified as soon as possible. King Abimelech acted with integrity, more so than Abraham, in this matter. He moved quickly and called for Abraham. ‘“What have you done to us?’ he demanded. ‘What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?’” (Gen.12:9-10 nlt) It is an embarrassing situation when a heathen king rebukes a prophet of God. Equally embarrassing are the rebukes we Christians get today from our friends and family when we are on the wrong side of honesty.
Abraham offered his three flimsy excuses; the people of Gerar did not fear God, they would kill him for his wife, and Sarah was actually his half-sister. The Bible doesn’t record a spoken response from the king, but records Abimelech’s action to make things right. “Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. Then Abimelech said, ‘Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.’” (Gen.20:14-15 nlt) It seems strange that despite Abraham’s sin of deception he is lavishly given gifts. Of course this is not a license to sin, but an example of the enormous riches and blessings God bestows on His children in spite of their sin. It seems that King Abimelech gave these gifts in a way to honor God.
Abimelech topped it off by giving Abraham 1,000 pieces of silver, the price of a slave in those days, to restore any honor Sarah may have lost before others. “This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.” (Gen.20:16 nlt) Abraham, the prophet, then prayed for Abimelech and the people for their afflictions to be gone, because God had prevented the women from becoming pregnant because of Sarah.
Abraham repeated his sin of twenty-five years earlier in Egypt and the Lord delivered on His promise He made to Abraham twenty-five years earlier. “The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.” (Gen.21:1-2 nlt) The wait was over. God’s promised was fulfilled. Abraham named him Issac, meaning ‘laughter’ and circumcised him on the eighth day, according to the covenant.
God’s promised blessings continue throughout our lives. They will always be there in His timing despite our failures. Praise God for that!
Word for the Soul 