(20:1) From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he 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, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." (4) Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent people? (5) Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this." (6) Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. (7) Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." (8) So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. (9) Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done." (10) And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you see, that you did this thing?" (11) Abraham said, "I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. (12) Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. (13) And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.'" (14) Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. (15) And Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you." (16) To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated." (17) Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. (18) For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Summary: Again Abraham tells a king of a foreign country that Sarah is his sister, because he thought there was no fear of the Lord in Gerar. God told Kimg Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was Abraham's wife. The king returns Sarah to Abraham and offers a payoff to Abraham. Abraham prays to God and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his female slaves.
ReplyDeleteApplication: Father God, how often am I slow to recognize your protection and your grace. I act in the same ways when faced with problems I've faced before, and like Abraham I'm still surprised when You deliver me from the dangerous situations I've created. Thank You for Your patience and Your consistency with me!
Summary: Abraham lies to the people of Gerar to try to save himself again by telling people his wife is only his sister, and Sarah agreed and said the same. God stopped King Abimilech from sleeping with Sarah as He knew that Abimilech was innocent. Abraham explained to the King that he assumed him to be Godless and that he would kill him to get his wife. The king gave Abraham servants and animals and gave him any place in his kingdom to live and take care of. Abraham prayed to God to heal the King, his wife, and servants for they could not have children.
ReplyDeleteApplication: Heavenly Father… give me Your strength to stand up for You and Your will. Like King Abimilech don’t allow me to sin. Thank you for Your promise to protect me and to keep me on Your path. This is what You did for Abraham and King Abimilech and this is what I am reminding You to do for me as You have said in Your word. Thank you for caring for my every need including protecting me from myself. Forgive me from sinning against You.