You might be just as amazed as I am that once again this chapter addresses Abraham trying to pass off Sarah as his sister. Wow, after all the blessings of God and all the conversations with angelic visitors and God himself! And let’s not forget the viewing of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah! Abraham, what are you doing?
But this reminds us that Abraham was human and he sinned as readily as we do although he was a great man of God. Almost refreshing, isn’t it? Father Abraham was a sinner and was forgiven by Almighty God over and over. But there is another issue I want to address this week, white lies.
White lies, half truths, whatever we want to label them, its sin. Abraham confesses that Sarah is his sister, half sister that is. He didn’t lie, right? Once before in Egypt Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister and what happened? Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem and immediately his household contracted plagues. Pharaoh acted more righteously than Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham) and sent him back to Canaan.
This time, Abimelech has almost the same identical occurrence. God threatened Abimelech with death! “You will die. The woman you took is married.” Imagine Abimelech’s surprise! So Abimelech has a conversation with God to ask for leniency and gives an in-depth account of the dialogue that transpired between himself and Abraham.
God spares Abimelech and his nation and Sarah is delivered back to Abraham. But it’s interesting that Abimelech wants to understand why Abraham told this lie. Abraham seems to find the justification, same as he used in Egypt, is to protect him from death. How little credit Abraham gives Almighty God to protect his life and that of Sarah’s in order to bring about the fulfillment of promises concerning his future descendents!
However, Abimelech, similar to Pharaoh in Egypt, shows the trait of being righteous as he gives Sarah back to Abraham along with sheep, cattle and male and female slaves. He also made the offer for Abraham to live anywhere on his (Abimelech’s) land he desired. In addition, Abimelech wants to it to be known that Sarah was not touched as he stated, “I gave your brother Abraham twenty-five pounds of silver to make up for any wrong that people may think about you. I want everyone to know that you are innocent.” Imagine, a pagan believer goes to these lengths to make sure everything has been righted between himself and Abraham’s God!
The end of the chapter shares a consequence that Abimelech was enduring as a result of taking Sarah into his home. Evidently the women were not able to conceive and Abraham prayed for God to release the women of Abimelech’s house from this curse in order that they might become pregnant.
My only comment about this latter discovery is Abraham and Sarah must have been in this place for a while if the women were noticeably sterile. I don’t think this was a short span of time that transpired in chapter 20. But isn’t that the way it is with sin and its resulting consequences? It is usually not discovered overnight, but after a progression of time.
Another note: I don’t read a conversation between Abraham and God with Abraham asking forgiveness for this sin or God disciplining Abraham for yet again claiming Sarah as his sister. Abraham’s justifying answer to Abimelech: 1) I thought no one in your place believed in God and someone would kill me to get to her if they knew we were husband and wife; 2) she’s my sister anyway; 3) when God told us to wander in many different places Sarah and I had an agreement that she would tell people we were brother and sister instead of husband and wife. Sounds pretty thought out, don’t you think?
This chapter emphasizes the dialogue between God and the pagan leader, Abimelech. I would like to think Abimelech changed his ways after this encounter with Almighty God!
Father, thank you that you cross barriers to reach the lost even using our unfaithfulness and disobedience to your commands. Help us to strengthen our resolve and win souls for the kingdom of God. Convict us mightily when we have the urge to sin and speak with “white lies”, Father. Show us that lies will only work against our personal testimony and in many cases bring harm to others. Wash us, Lord, in the blood of the sinless Lamb of God. Amen.
Next Week’s Assignment: Please read Chapter 21
Finally, the birth of the promised son for Abraham and Sarah!
1) How old were Abraham and Sarah upon the birth of Isaac?
2) Do you think Ishmael meant harm to Isaac when he was making fun of his younger brother?
3) What action did Sarah ask Abraham to take regarding Ishmael and Hagar?
4) Consider Abraham’s emotional status regarding these two boys. What do you think is going on in his mind?
5) What happened with Ishmael and Hagar? What was God’s response?
6) What is the significance of Abimelech’s return?
But this reminds us that Abraham was human and he sinned as readily as we do although he was a great man of God. Almost refreshing, isn’t it? Father Abraham was a sinner and was forgiven by Almighty God over and over. But there is another issue I want to address this week, white lies.
White lies, half truths, whatever we want to label them, its sin. Abraham confesses that Sarah is his sister, half sister that is. He didn’t lie, right? Once before in Egypt Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister and what happened? Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem and immediately his household contracted plagues. Pharaoh acted more righteously than Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham) and sent him back to Canaan.
This time, Abimelech has almost the same identical occurrence. God threatened Abimelech with death! “You will die. The woman you took is married.” Imagine Abimelech’s surprise! So Abimelech has a conversation with God to ask for leniency and gives an in-depth account of the dialogue that transpired between himself and Abraham.
God spares Abimelech and his nation and Sarah is delivered back to Abraham. But it’s interesting that Abimelech wants to understand why Abraham told this lie. Abraham seems to find the justification, same as he used in Egypt, is to protect him from death. How little credit Abraham gives Almighty God to protect his life and that of Sarah’s in order to bring about the fulfillment of promises concerning his future descendents!
However, Abimelech, similar to Pharaoh in Egypt, shows the trait of being righteous as he gives Sarah back to Abraham along with sheep, cattle and male and female slaves. He also made the offer for Abraham to live anywhere on his (Abimelech’s) land he desired. In addition, Abimelech wants to it to be known that Sarah was not touched as he stated, “I gave your brother Abraham twenty-five pounds of silver to make up for any wrong that people may think about you. I want everyone to know that you are innocent.” Imagine, a pagan believer goes to these lengths to make sure everything has been righted between himself and Abraham’s God!
The end of the chapter shares a consequence that Abimelech was enduring as a result of taking Sarah into his home. Evidently the women were not able to conceive and Abraham prayed for God to release the women of Abimelech’s house from this curse in order that they might become pregnant.
My only comment about this latter discovery is Abraham and Sarah must have been in this place for a while if the women were noticeably sterile. I don’t think this was a short span of time that transpired in chapter 20. But isn’t that the way it is with sin and its resulting consequences? It is usually not discovered overnight, but after a progression of time.
Another note: I don’t read a conversation between Abraham and God with Abraham asking forgiveness for this sin or God disciplining Abraham for yet again claiming Sarah as his sister. Abraham’s justifying answer to Abimelech: 1) I thought no one in your place believed in God and someone would kill me to get to her if they knew we were husband and wife; 2) she’s my sister anyway; 3) when God told us to wander in many different places Sarah and I had an agreement that she would tell people we were brother and sister instead of husband and wife. Sounds pretty thought out, don’t you think?
This chapter emphasizes the dialogue between God and the pagan leader, Abimelech. I would like to think Abimelech changed his ways after this encounter with Almighty God!
Father, thank you that you cross barriers to reach the lost even using our unfaithfulness and disobedience to your commands. Help us to strengthen our resolve and win souls for the kingdom of God. Convict us mightily when we have the urge to sin and speak with “white lies”, Father. Show us that lies will only work against our personal testimony and in many cases bring harm to others. Wash us, Lord, in the blood of the sinless Lamb of God. Amen.
Next Week’s Assignment: Please read Chapter 21
Finally, the birth of the promised son for Abraham and Sarah!
1) How old were Abraham and Sarah upon the birth of Isaac?
2) Do you think Ishmael meant harm to Isaac when he was making fun of his younger brother?
3) What action did Sarah ask Abraham to take regarding Ishmael and Hagar?
4) Consider Abraham’s emotional status regarding these two boys. What do you think is going on in his mind?
5) What happened with Ishmael and Hagar? What was God’s response?
6) What is the significance of Abimelech’s return?
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