In chapter 20 we move from the life of Lot back to the life of Abraham. Last we saw of Abraham he was looking down on Sodom and Gomorrah watching the destruction and probably wondering about the fate of his nephew and family. It's more important in the passage to look forward than back. The focus is on where Abraham's headed, not where he's been. Shur is a wilderness from the north edge of the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Kadesh is about 75 miles south of Hebrew (the trees of Mamre were near Hebron). It was 60 miles between Kadesh and Shur, a large wide-open area. From that line north to Gerar was also about 60 miles.
Abraham moved on from there and went south to Gerar. This was a Philistine city between Palestine and Egypt. There seems to be some uncertainty around this because it seems Abram is going south but ends up west in Gerar. Some think this is because the uncertainty of absolute borders. The Philistine territory could have extended south into the area between Kadesh and Shur.
Abraham went to Gerar from between Kadesh and Shur.
- Kadesh means holiness;
- Shur means wall;
- Gerar means pilgrimage or battle.
Is this not the story of Abraham's struggle though life in the flesh in pursuit of the promise? Abraham is staying in Gerar (pilgrimage). He has a wall on one side and holiness on the other. The interesting part about the wall is it was probably a real wall built by Egypt to protect its border. Abraham's way was blocked from going the direction he went before (to Egypt). It at least gives the appearance that Abraham couldn't run away to Egypt again. With the meaning of the cities you might say, "Abraham continued his pilgrimage but his way was blocked from running away to Egypt and the clear choice of holiness was before him."
It is obvious that Abraham's pilgrimage continues. To go to Gerar, he has to move away from Kadesh (holiness). This great man of faith did the same thing he did when he ran off to Egypt; he told the king that Sarah was his sister. Abimelech is all too happy to take her for his own and he does so.
Abimelech is the Philistine king. His name was a common name and it meant 'my father is king'. 'Abimelech' could have also been a title (much like Caesar was a name that became a title). .
Abraham clearly feared for his life traveling to what he perceived as a wicked place. He assumed they would kill him, as the husband, to take his wife. As the brother, he would be allowed to live; he would be responsible to negotiate her terms of marriage. These concepts seem odd to us and we get a picture of the role of women in the society at that time.
Why did this king take a 90-year-old foreign woman for his harem? It was probably to form an alliance with Abraham, who was wealthy and powerful. After the defeat of kings in chapter 14, he would be known of by all.
Genesis 20:3
Once again, the Lord intervened and kept Sarah safe, the promise safe and the bloodline secure. God came to Abimelech in a dream. This must have been a powerful dream for him to know without a shadow of doubt that it was a message from God. However, the Philistine god Abimelek worshiped wasn't Abraham's god; at least not up until that dream, which could have changed that. Abimelech, understanding the situation, pled his case before the Lord saying he didn't do anything wrong. He even pointed out that Sarah told the same half-truth that Abraham did.
The honest pagan didn't stand a chance with two believers willing to lie!
Genesis 20:4-7
The Lord cursed this king and his people during the time Sarah was away from Abraham. Abimelech sought mercy from the right God! The Lord confirmed Abimelech's integrity, even thought it was the Lord who kept him from sinning. It's as if God was saying, "I knew you're heart that's why I didn't let you touch her." This interaction between the king and God is in a dream.
Even though Abraham told this lie he is still considered a prophet of God. Abimelech had to restore Sarah to Abraham and have Abraham pray for him so he could live. If he didn't, not only would he die but all his family also.
Imagine how Abraham might have prayed. What would this sound like? He knew the man didn't deserve to die and he know it was his own sin that brought this about. For Abraham to offer a prayer, it had to be one of intercession, but only after repentance and confession on his own part. He might have said:
"Lord, I was wrong not to trust you. You have given Sarah and I an amazing promise and I should have just believed that you would protected us. Lord we deceived this man and endangered his life. Please forgive us and bless this man and removed any penalty or curse from him."
Genesis 20:8-10
Abimelech was angry and he lets Abraham have it. He returned Sarah and scolded Abraham for what he did. This had to be a pretty demeaning moment for the prophet of God to be scolded by this Philistine king. And it should be embarrassing when the ungodly has to remind us to be more Godly.
Genesis 20:11-13
Here's what he did:
- Abraham assumed the worst from this nation.
- He assumed they had no morality or integrity (or his was much greater).
- He took action, stooping to a lower level to outsmart them; or so he thought.
- He justified his lie by calling it a half truth.
- He left God out of the process.
When someone tells us a half truth, we classify it as a lie; when the half truth is delivered by us, we seemed to be okay labeling it as half-truth.
Abraham had his reasons for what he did and offered them to Abimelech.
- He had just seen what was going on in Sodom & Gomorrah and assumed Gerar was a Godless place also.
- He thought he would be killed.
- Sarah really was his sister (or half sister).
This from a man who had heard specifically from God numerous times in his life. He didn't need to fabricate stories to be safe; God had promised him that a great nation would come from him. Would God allow Abraham to be killed? Is it possible for God to have this grand plan for Abraham's life and a pagan king steps in, kills Abraham and spoils God's plan? Would God just say, "Oh well, I guess I'll start over"? Abraham forgot that God doesn't need our help to maintain his faithfulness.
Abraham's easy to pick on: Where is the man of great faith?" we ask. But let's examine ourselves first. Have you ever had doubts? God has made us many promises in His Word. Do you hold onto those promises with unwavering faith? Have we even come close to showing the patience that Abraham has shown? I'm pretty sure I would be complaining every day. God, where are you? You made promises and this is taking way too long. God's plan is perfect; his timing is perfect.
It sure is easy to look at someone else and see how their faith could be better. It's much more difficult looking in the mirror. We should take comfort in the fact that as imperfect as Abraham was, God still called him friend. God still told Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet. God still valued Abraham's prayer. God can take the foolish and weak and use them. That means there is hope for you and me.
Genesis 20:14-16
Abimelech didn't go to Abraham and give him gifts and offer anywhere in his land to him because he thought his excuses were valid or that he felt bad for Abraham. He offered these things because he was impressed with Abraham's God. He knew this God was serious and he wanted to treat God's favored with favor. The dream had a tremendous impact on his life.
It's interesting that Abimelech called Abraham Sarah's brother when speaking to her. He was surely being sarcastic as a way of rebuking her. I think this king wants to be done with these two. Abimelech brought 1000 shekels of silver. This would be equal to about 25lbs. of silver. It would be more money than a worker could expect to make in a lifetime. He brought this gift to 'cover' the offense. The word for 'cover' meant 'a veil over the eyes'.
Adam Clark sees this difficult passage literally meaning:
Let it (1000 shekels) be to thee a covering of the eyes (to procure a veil) with regard to all those who are with thee, and to all (or and in all) speak thou the truth
He further clarifies by paraphrase:
And in all things speak the truth—not only tell a part of the truth, but tell the whole; say not merely he is my brother, but say also, he is my husband too.
The King is Christlike in that he gives them a gift to 'cover' the sins they committed. This is the picture of grace.
Genesis 20:17-18
How much do you suppose this prayer meant to Abimelech? This guy had just caused him grief and had nearly got him killed. Abraham's testimony was severely damaged because of his dishonesty before the king. The prayer was an act of humility on Abraham's part. He had to repent and accept responsibility and remove guilt from this king who showed more righteousness than he. The women in the house of Abimelech suffered from barrenness as long as Sarah was apart from Abraham. They suffered as she suffered and it was within Abraham's power to alleviate that. In this, we see grace offered by Abraham.
Have you ever lost your testimony because of sin? I'm sure we all have when we said or did something that caused others a problem. What lasting impression did you leave them? Did they know you claimed Christ? Like Abraham, our pilgrimage continues. We can't turn away or run, there is a wall between us and our old ways. The way to holiness is there but it's a way off. We aren't there yet and we need to keep moving in the right direction. We should never forget that others are watching and evaluating our God by our actions. Represent well.
©2019 Doug Ford
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