1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, LORD, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Genesis chapter 20 is a continuation of the story of Abraham and Sarah, the patriarch and matriarch of the Israelite people. This chapter follows the events of chapter 19, where Abraham's nephew Lot was rescued from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this chapter, Abraham and Sarah travel to Gerar, where they encounter King Abimelech. The main themes of this chapter include faith, deception, and God's protection and faithfulness to His promises.
The chapter begins with Abraham and Sarah leaving the city of Mamre and journeying to Gerar, a city in the land of the Philistines. This was a common practice for nomadic people like Abraham and Sarah, who would often move from place to place in search of food and water for their livestock. However, this journey also had a deeper significance in the story of Abraham and Sarah.
Abraham and Sarah were promised by God that they would have a son and that their descendants would become a great nation. However, Sarah was still barren and had not yet given birth to a child. This journey to Gerar was a test of their faith in God's promise. It required them to leave the comfort and security of their home in Mamre and trust in God's plan for their future.
As they entered Gerar, Abraham became afraid that the people of the city would kill him in order to take Sarah, who was known for her beauty. In order to protect himself, Abraham told Sarah to pretend to be his sister instead of his wife. This was not the first time Abraham had used this deception; he had done the same thing in Egypt years earlier. This act of deception was a sign of Abraham's lack of faith in God's protection and provision.
Abimelech, the king of Gerar, took Sarah into his household, believing her to be Abraham's sister. However, God intervened and warned Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was actually Abraham's wife. This revelation caused Abimelech to confront Abraham and question why he had lied to him. Abraham's response was that he feared for his life and believed that there was no fear of God in Gerar. This statement not only showed Abraham's lack of faith, but also his lack of trust in God's sovereignty over all nations.
Despite Abraham's deception, God showed His protection and faithfulness to His promises. He intervened and prevented Abimelech from committing a sin by taking Sarah as his wife. God also reminded Abimelech that He had a plan for Abraham and Sarah's future, and that they were not to be harmed. This event also served as a reminder to Abraham and Sarah that God was in control and would fulfill His promises in His own time and way.
Abimelech then returned Sarah to Abraham and gave them gifts as a sign of his repentance and reconciliation with them. Abraham also prayed for Abimelech and his household, and God healed them from the infertility that had plagued them. This was a sign of God's grace and mercy, even to those who were not part of His chosen people.
Genesis chapter 20 serves as a reminder of the consequences of deception and lack of faith in God. Abraham's actions not only put himself and Sarah in danger, but also caused harm to others. It also shows the importance of trusting in God's plan and timing, rather than taking matters into our own hands. Abraham's journey to Gerar was a test of his faith, and his deception was a sign of his lack of trust in God's protection and provision.
However, this chapter also highlights God's protection and faithfulness to His promises. Despite Abraham's deception, God intervened and prevented harm from coming to Sarah and Abimelech. This event also served as a reminder to Abraham and Sarah that God was in control and would fulfill His promises in His own time and way. It also shows God's grace and mercy, even to those who were not part of His chosen people.
Overall, Genesis chapter 20 teaches us the importance of faith and trust in God, and the consequences of deception and lack of faith. It also reminds us of God's protection and faithfulness to His promises, and His sovereignty over all nations. This chapter serves as a reminder to us to always put our faith and trust in God, and to rely on His plan and timing rather than our own.
This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.
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