Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Abraham travels back to the Negev and settles between Kadesh and Shur in a place called Gerar. Abraham once again tells the people of Gerar that Sarah is his sister. The king of Gerar, Abimelech, takes Sarah from Abraham. God tells king Abimelech in a dream that Sarah is Abraham's wife. If he sleeps with her, he will certainly die. Abraham tells Abimelech the full truth that she is his wife and his sister at the same time. Abimelech gives Abraham sheep, cattle, slaves, and returns Sarah. He also lets Abraham settle wherever he pleases in the land. Abraham prays to God, and God heals Abimelech, his wife, and his female slaves so that they can bear children again."
Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "Abraham said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah [into his harem]. But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.” v.2-3
- "Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her. So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).” v.6-7
- "Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife." v.11-12
- "So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children, for the Lord had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife." v.17-18
My personal observations and reflections...
- WANDERINGS. Abraham and his household went on a journey, and they end up on Gerar. The Bible did not tell of any reason why, but I found this observation, and it makes sense: "After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved. Perhaps he did not want to live in the hills overlooking the destroyed region any longer, and be reminded of those people and the judgment that came upon them." https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/genesis-20/
- SIN PATTERN. Here we see that Abraham did the same mistake, or sin again, of deception.. We ask why, but I think this situation shows how frail we are as a human.. and it shows God as the POWERFUL ONE who is always there to help and guide us.. One day we are so strong in faith, and in trusting God-- next day we see ourselves depending on our own selves, giving into fear, and doing things in our own way (as if that will ever work). This is the SIN NATURE that we all have; we all have our own flaws. Abraham may have been gifted by God with some strengths, but there are still areas of his life wherein he is weak. Just like him, we always NEED GOD in our life.. He too needs the Savior Jesus Christ that will be born hundred, thousand years in his family lineage..
- ABIMELECH. Is he righteous or not? Judging from the first act, I think no, because he has a harem (the wives/or concubines of a polygamous man). But we will see that God will IMMEDIATELY intervene in this ugly situation..
- GOD'S INTERVENTION, DREAMS. Hmm, God really speaks through dreams (maybe not all the time, still depending on the situation). But God is powerful and sovereign, He can do anything that is right and according to His will. So, for the sake of Abraham (and future Jesus), God spoke through a dream in a pagan king.
Notice how Abimelech mentioned there-- righteous/innocent/blameless regarding Sarah-- because he and Sarah has not done "it" yet, God prevented him. And it was Abraham's fault too.
“Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her."
God is not only doing a favor for Abimelech and Abraham here, God was doing ALL OF US A FAVOR by intervening here! Sarah will give birth to Isaac, the promised son, where God's ONLY SON will eventually come from (Jesus)! What were you thinking Abraham! Praise God for His faithfulness and graciousness.
* "This may seem drastic, but something important was concerned. “Suppose Abimelech had taken Sarah and God had not intervened? Two seeds would have been at the door to Sarah’s womb, and to this day an element of doubt would cling to the ancestry of our Lord” (Barnhouse)." https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/genesis-20/
- TERRIFIED. God caused Abimelech and his house to be terrified, and to rectify things. We then read the confrontation between Abimelech and Abraham.. Abimelech did everything God has commanded him regarding Abraham and Sarah.
- ABRAHAM PRAYED. Despite being in the wrong, God still used Abraham as a prophet to these Gerar people, to show His glory. That is how big God's love and grace is, He is willing to use us no matter what our past is.
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;" 1 Corinthians 1:27
Bible's footnotes:
Genesis 20:2 The word “Abimelech” may be a royal title instead of a proper name. In either case this man is probably the father or grandfather of Abimelech king of the Philistines encountered later by Isaac (26:1).
Genesis 20:2 Sarah was about ninety years old at this time.
Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+20&version=AMP
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