Gênesis 20
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gênesis 20
Cole has a thought- I think the reason is that God sometimes allows us to fail to teach us that our salvation depends totally on His sovereign grace, and not at all on ourselves. This event took place on the verge of Sarah’s becoming pregnant with Isaac. That couldn’t have happened if she was in Abimelech’s harem. In his attempt to protect himself, Abraham almost spoiled God’s promise to give him a son through Sarah the next year (Ge 18:10). This serious failure, right on the verge of the promise’s fulfillment, showed Abraham again that if God’s promise was to be fulfilled, it would be totally because of God and not at all because of Abraham. Jack Arnold - How wonderful is the sovereignty of God, for He can and does intervene into the affairs of men, even the unsaved, to accomplish his purposes. While Abimelech did not touch Sarah, it was God who actually withheld him from sinning. POINT: Those who speak of man’s absolute freedom must never read the Bible. Those who say that puny man can defy the secret counsels of God leave God out of the picture. For many, God is reduced to a mere spectator, full of gracious intentions but lacking in power to do anything. How sad to believe in a God who is less than a man. The Believer's Study Bible - The warning of God to Abimelech concerning the deceit of Abraham further indicates the mercy of God toward all people. The two incidents in which Abraham used the same lie under similar circumstances (12:10-20) make the deed doubly reprehensible. After Yahweh's explanation, Abimelech would deserve any punishment, for he now knew that Sarah was the wife of Abraham, "a prophet" (v. 7). Bruce Goettsche - God's Grace is Greater than our Weakness (2Cor 12:9-10). In the midst of Abraham's sin, we see that God is still watching out for him. He protects Sarah, he protects Abraham and even puts Abraham in a position to bless Abimelech. God forgave Abraham in spite of his repeated sin. This is not to say that there weren't consequences. There were and always are. But the point we need to see is that God did not throw up His hands and walk away from Abraham. He won't walk away from us either. God wants us to overcome our failures and weaknesses. He has promised He would help us. But God knows that growth takes time. Martyn Lloyd Jones says that we don't have to be discouraged . . . in fact we can be hopeful. He writes, I lose my sense of hopelessness because I can say to myself that not only am I no longer under the dominion of sin, but I am under the dominion of another power that nothing can frustrate. However weak I may be, it is the power of God that is working in me; and it is God's purpose to deliver me from every vestige and trace and remnant of sin, until I become faultless and blameless. There is a power working in me which is against sin and sin's power. I have been taken out of the realm of sin and I am being purged and purified, God is working in me. However great the power of the devil may be, I know that this power is greater: "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4) When I say that, and believe it, I can smile at the devil, I can defy, I can resist him and see him fleeing from me. I can resist him, 'steadfast in the faith'. I used to be terrified of him, but no longer! Oh yes, If I were still alone I should be terrified; but Christ is with me, I am in Him. Therefore I need fear nothing that the devil can do to me. I can defy him, though he is a 'a roaring lion roaming about seeking whom he may devour.' In Christ I can resist him. [Lloyd Jones A NEW MAN p. 143, 144] Even in our failure we have the assurance that God is at work in our lives if we belong to Him. God will continue the work of freeing us from the power of sin just as He has delivered us from the penalty of sin. Don't give up my friend! Keep working . . . keep resisting. When you fall, get up again. The Lord is at work in the lives of everyone who trusts Him. THOUGHT - Perhaps you like Abraham are prone to take some side trips from "Mamre to Gerar" (so to speak). Let's be honest. Most of us have made this trip from time to time, and even if you have not, you still have this propensity, because it is in the "DNA" of our fallen flesh to take "side trips!" That said, let me recommend a little book (which can be borrowed) by Jerry Bridges by the title of The Chase: Pursuing Holiness in your Everyday Life, which is a contemporary adaptation of the NavPress classic "The Pursuit of Holiness," especially the chapter entitled "Help in the Daily Battle." I would also highly recommend borrowing his classic "The Pursuit of Holiness." You won't be disappointed, but you will be challenged! May God grant us all, by His Spirit and Word, the power to "Pursue (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14+) Ken Hemphill - BUT GOD Steps Into Our Situation (His book is highly recommended - But God - borrow here) Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night. Have you ever found yourself on the verge of spiritual victory only to be defeated by a familiar enemy? If so, you may identify with this story, rejoicing in the assurance of God's protective care. Abraham had been steadily learning to trust God as the provision for his life. But even after the moving story of Abraham's intercession for Sodom, when he pled for the city's survival (if only ten righteous people, his nephew Lot among them, could be found there), we are disappointed to find very soon thereafter that he resorted to faithless scheming. While traveling through the Negev and settling between Kadesh and Shur, he tried passing off his wife, Sarah, as his sister. Abraham explained his action: “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife’” (v. 11). Further, he attempted to rationalize his action by claiming that she really was his sister — sort of—the daughter of his father (v. 12). Once again, however, we are reminded of God's grace in the everyday affairs of men. “But God came to Abimelech [the local king] in a dream,” setting into motion a series of events that spared Abraham from paying as dearly as he could for his folly. I find it helpful to read stories like this. They are not glamorous and do not paint Abraham in a very good light, but they are honest. Like Abraham, we often find ourselves falling back into familiar patterns of bad behavior that have been our crutches in the past — even after times of great spiritual victory and advance. This story should remind us that God is our ultimate and only protection. How arrogant of Abraham to think that his half-truth would provide greater safety for him and his family than the sovereign God of the universe could. When you are tempted to rely on your own ingenuity, remember that God's power is not lessened by the circumstances in which you are living. His Word can always be trusted QUESTION - What does the Bible say about nightmares / bad dreams? WATCH VIDEO ANSWER - Nightmares are defined as dreams that produce a strong negative emotional response, such as fear or horror. Nightmare sufferers usually awake in a state of extreme distress, even to the point of a severe physical response—racing pulse, sweating, nausea—and they often are unable to go back to sleep for some time. The causes of nightmares are varied. Children, because of their active imaginations, are prone to nightmares, some so severe that they wake up screaming and crying. Extreme incidents of these are also referred to as “night terrors.” Eating certain foods too close to bedtime can trigger a nightmare, as can viewing scary movies. Going to bed distressed about life’s circumstances or after a fight or argument can also cause nightmares because of the brain’s continued activity during sleep. There is no doubt that nightmares can be extremely disturbing, but is there any spiritual significance to nightmares? Dreams and visions are mentioned in the Bible, and God sometimes used the dream state to communicate with His prophets and others. God spoke to Abimelech in Genesis 20, warning him not to touch Abraham’s wife, Sarah. Other dreams include Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28), Joseph’s dream that his brothers would serve him that led to his captivity in Egypt (Genesis 37), as well as his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 40-41) that led to his being made the second most powerful man in Egypt. The Lord or His angel appeared to others in the Bible, including Solomon (1 Kings 3), Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2), Joseph (Matthew 2), and Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27). None of these dreams, however, with the possible exception of Pilate’s wife’s dream, can really be called a nightmare. So it would appear that God does not usually speak to people through nightmares. Some people think Satan or demons are infiltrating their minds during nightmares, but there is no passage in the Bible to directly substantiate this. With the possible exception of a dream Eliphaz claimed to have, there are no biblical incidents of demonic forces communicating with people during dreams or nightmares. Most likely, nightmares are nothing more than the brain’s way of contending with our fears and concerns as it continues to function during sleep cycles. If a Christian experiences continual, frequent nightmares that are interrupting sleep and causing emotional disturbance on a regular basis, perhaps medical help is in order. But, as in all things, prayer is our most potent weapon against any kind of emotional or spiritual distress. Praying for fifteen or twenty minutes prior to sleep is the most effective way to calm the mind and heart and prepare for restful sleep. As in all things, God grants wisdom to those who seek it from Him (James 1:5), and He has also promised His peace to all who seek it. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).GotQuestions.org Question - How did God use dreams and visions in the Bible? Answer - God used dreams and visions (visions are “waking dreams”; see Numbers 24:4) several times in the Bible to communicate with people. Visions seem to have been common enough that their lack was sorely noted. An absence of visions was due at times to a dearth of prophets (1 Samuel 3:1) and other times due to the disobedience of God’s people (1 Samuel 28:6). Old Testament Dreams and Visions God used visions in the Old Testament to reveal His plan, to further His plan, and to put His people in places of influence. Abraham (Genesis 15:1): God used a vision to restate the Abrahamic Covenant, reminding Abram that he would have a son and be the father of many nations. Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-7): Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was beautiful—so beautiful that when Abraham came into a new area he occasionally feared that the local ruler would kill him and take Sarah for himself. Abraham told Abimelech king of Gerar that Sarah was his sister (she was his half-sister). Abimelech took Sarah into his harem, but God sent him a dream telling him not to touch Sarah because she was Abraham’s wife. The king returned Sarah to her husband the next morning; the dream had protected Sarah and safeguarded God’s plan for Sarah to be the mother of His chosen people. Jacob (Genesis 28:10-17): Jacob, with his mother’s help, stole Esau’s firstborn inheritance. Jacob then fled Esau’s anger, and on his journey he had his famous dream of a ladder reaching to heaven on which angels ascended and descended. In this dream Jacob received God’s promise that Abraham’s blessing would be carried on through him. Joseph (Genesis 37:1-11): Joseph is one of the most famous dreamers, and one of the most famous dream-interpreters, in the Bible. His first recorded dreams are found in Genesis 37. They showed through easily deciphered symbols that Joseph’s family would one day bow to him in respect. His brothers didn’t appreciate the dream and in their hatred sold Joseph into slavery. Eventually, Joseph ended up in prison in Egypt. Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker (Genesis 40): While in prison Joseph interpreted some dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. With God’s guidance, he explained that the cupbearer would return to Pharaoh’s service, but the baker would be killed. Pharaoh (Genesis 41): Two years later, Pharaoh himself had a dream which Joseph interpreted. God’s purpose was to raise Joseph to second-in-command over Egypt and to save the Egyptians and the Israelites from a horrible famine. Samuel (1 Samuel 3): Samuel had his first vision as a young boy. God told him that judgment was coming upon the sons of Samuel’s mentor, Eli. The young Samuel was faithful to relay the information, and God continued to speak to Samuel through the rest of his life. The Midianite and Amalekite armies (Judges 7:12-15): The pagan enemies of Israel had a divinely inspired dream. God told Gideon to sneak into the enemy camp at night, and there in the outposts of the camp, Gideon overheard an enemy soldier relate a dream he had just had. The interpretation, from another enemy soldier, mentioned Gideon by name and predicted that Israel would win the battle. Gideon was greatly encouraged by this revelation. Solomon (1 Kings 3:5): It was in a dream that God gave Solomon the famous offer: "Ask what you wish Me to give you." Solomon chose wisdom. Daniel (Daniel 2; 4): As He had done for Joseph, God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence by allowing him to interpret a foreign ruler’s dream. This is consistent with God’s propensity to use miracles to identify His messengers. Daniel himself had many dreams and visions, mostly related to future kingdoms of the world and the nation of Israel. New Testament Dreams and Visions Visions in the New Testament also served to provide information that was unavailable elsewhere. Specifically, God used visions and dreams to identify Jesus and to establish His church. Zacharias (Luke 1:5-23): God used a vision to tell Zacharias, an old priest, that he would soon have an important son. Not long after, Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, had John the Baptist. Joseph (Matthew 1:20; 2:13): Joseph would have divorced Mary when he found out she was pregnant, but God sent an angel to him in a dream, convincing him that the pregnancy was of God. Joseph went ahead with the marriage. After Jesus was born, God sent two more dreams, one to tell Joseph to take his family to Egypt so Herod could not kill Jesus and another to tell him Herod was dead and that he could return home. Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19): During Jesus’ trial, Pilate’s wife sent an urgent message to the governor encouraging him to free Jesus. Her message was prompted by a dream she had—a nightmare, really—that convinced her that Jesus was innocent and that Pilate should have nothing to do with His case. Ananias (Acts 9:10): It would have taken nothing less than a vision from God to convince Ananias, a Christian in Damascus, to visit Paul, the persecutor of Christians. But because Ananias was obedient to God’s leading, Paul regained his sight and found the truth about those he was trying to kill. Cornelius (Acts 10:1-6): God spoke to an Italian centurion named Cornelius who feared the God of the Jews. In his vision, Cornelius saw an angel who told him where to find Simon Peter and to send for him and listen to his message. Cornelius obeyed the vision, Peter came and preached, and Cornelius and his household full of Gentiles were saved by the grace of God. Peter (Acts 10:9-15): While Peter was praying on the rooftop of a house in Joppa, God gave him a vision of animals lowered in something like a sheet. A voice from heaven told Peter to kill the animals (some of which were unclean) and eat them. The vision served to show that Christians are not bound by kosher law and that God had pronounced Gentiles “clean”; that is, heaven is open to all who follow Jesus. Paul: Paul had several visions in his missionary career. One sent him to preach in Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). Another encouraged him to keep preaching in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11). God also gave him a vision of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6). John (Revelation): Nearly the entire book of Revelation is a vision John had while exiled on the island of Patmos. John’s vision explains in more detail some of the events that God had shown Daniel. Today’s Dreams and Visions With the completion of the Bible, God does not have to use dreams and visions as much as He did before. That is not to say that He cannot or does not; God can communicate with us however He chooses. But when we have a decision to make, our first stop should always be the Bible, not a dream.GotQuestions.org Matthew Henry Notes: Ge 20:3-7 It appears by this that God revealed himself by dreams (which evidenced themselves to be divine and supernatural) not only to his servants the prophets, but even to those who were out of the pale of the church and covenant; but then, usually, it was with some regard to God's own people as in Pharaoh's dream, to Joseph, in Nebuchadnezzar's, to Daniel, and here, in Abimelech's, to Abraham and Sarah, for he reproved this king for their sake, Ps. 105:14, 15. I. God gives him notice of his danger (Ge 20:3), his danger of sin, telling him that the woman is a man's wife, so that if he take her he will wrong her husband; his danger of death for this sin: Thou art a dead man; and God's saying so of a man makes him so. Note, Every wilful sinner ought to be told that he is a dead man, as the condemned malefactor, and the patient whose disease is mortal, are said to be so. If thou art a bad man, certainly thou art a dead man. II. He pleads ignorance that Abraham and Sarah had agreed to impose upon him, and not to let him know that they were any more than brother and sister, Ge 20:6. See what confidence a man may have towards God when his heart condemns him not, 1 Jn. 3:21. If our consciences witness to our integrity, and that, however we may have been cheated into a snare, we have not knowingly and wittingly sinned against God, it will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. He pleads with God as Abraham had done, Ge 18:23. Wilt thou slay a righteous nation? Ge 20:4. Not such a nation as Sodom, which was indeed justly destroyed, but a nation which, in this matter, was innocent. III. God gives a very full answer to what he had said. 1. He allows his plea, and admits that what he did he did in the integrity of his heart: Yea, I know it, Ge 20:6. Note, It is matter of comfort to those that are honest that God knows their honesty, and will acknowledge it, though perhaps men that are prejudiced against them either cannot be convinced of it or will not own that they are. 2. He lets him know that he was kept from proceeding in the sin merely by the good hand of God upon him: I withheld thee from sinning against me. Abimelech was hereby kept from doing wrong, Abraham from suffering wrong, and Sarah from both. Note, (1.) There is a great deal of sin devised and designed that is never executed. As bad as things are in the world, they are not so bad as the devil and wicked men would have them. (2.) It is God that restrains men from doing the ill they would do. It is not from him that there is sin, but it is from him that there is not more sin, either by his influence upon men's minds, checking their inclination to sin, or by his providence, taking away the opportunity to sin. (3.) It is a great mercy to be hindered from committing sin; of this God must have the glory, whoever is the instrument, 1 Sa. 25:32, 33. 3. He charges him to make restitution: Now therefore, not that thou art better informed, restore the man his wife,Ge 20:7. Note, Ignorance will excuse no longer than it continues. If we have entered upon a wrong course through ignorance this will not excuse our knowingly persisting in it, Lev. 5:3-5. The reasons why he must be just and kind to Abraham are, (1.) Because he is a prophet, near and dear to God, for whom God does in a particular manner concern himself. God highly resents the injuries done to his prophets, and takes them as done to himself. (2.) Being a prophet, he shall pray for thee; this is a prophet's reward, and a good reward it is. It is intimated that there was great efficacy in the prayers of a prophet, and that good men should be ready to help those with their prayers that stand in need of them, and should make, at least, this return for the kindnesses that are done them. Abraham was accessory to Abimelech's trouble, and therefore was obliged in justice to pray for him. (3.) It is at thy peril if thou do not restore her: Know thou that thou shalt surely die. Note, He that does wrong, whoever he is, prince or peasant, shall certainly receive for the wrong which he has done, unless he repent and make restitution, Col. 3:25. No injustice can be made passable with God, no, not by Caesar's image stamped upon it. BUT GOD Steps Into Our Situation Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night. Have you ever found yourself on the verge of spiritual victory only to be defeated by a familiar enemy? If so, you may identify with this story, rejoicing in the assurance of God's protective care. Abraham had been steadily learning to trust God as the provision for his life. But even after the moving story of Abraham's intercession for Sodom, when he pled for the city's survival (if only ten righteous people, his nephew Lot among them, could be found there), we are disappointed to find very soon thereafter that he resorted to faithless scheming. While traveling through the Negev and settling between Kadesh and Shur, he tried passing off his wife, Sarah, as his sister. Abraham explained his action: “I thought, ‘There is absolutely no fear of God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife’” (v. 11). Further, he attempted to rationalize his action by claiming that she really was his sister — sort of—the daughter of his father (v. 12). Once again, however, we are reminded of God's grace in the everyday affairs of men. “But God came to Abimelech [the local king] in a dream,” setting into motion a series of events that spared Abraham from paying as dearly as he could for his folly. I find it helpful to read stories like this. They are not glamorous and do not paint Abraham in a very good light, but they are honest. Like Abraham, we often find ourselves falling back into familiar patterns of bad behavior that have been our crutches in the past — even after times of great spiritual victory and advance. This story should remind us that God is our ultimate and only protection. How arrogant of Abraham to think that his half-truth would provide greater safety for him and his family than the sovereign God of the universe could. When you are tempted to rely on your own ingenuity, remember that God's power is not lessened by the circumstances in which you are living. His Word can always be trusted. (from But God by Ken Hemphill) Genesis 20:4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless? had: Ge 20:6,18 wilt: Ge 20:17,18 18:23-25 19:24 2Sa 4:11 1Ch 21:17 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries ABIMELECH'S RESPONSE TO GOD Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord (adonay; Lxx = kurios), will You slay a nation, even though blameless (saddiq)? - He denies any offense and even uses the name Lord which is interesting. The phrase had not come near her is saying he did not have sex with Sarah. Notice in his question "will You slay a nation," Abimelech seems to assume that God’s judgment will fall on his entire nation. This recalls Abraham's question of God regarding the people of Sodom in Ge 18:23 “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" The Hebrew for blameless (saddiq) is used over 200x and is most often translated "righteous." Bruce Goettsche - If you were reading this story of Abraham and Abimelech for the very first time with no background knowledge of the men involved, which would you think was the righteous man? Probably Abimelech! Abimelech pleads with the Lord! (ED: WHILE ABRAHAM IS NOT WILLING TO TRUST THE LORD TO PROTECT SARAH!) Let us not make any mistake here . . . when we fall (especially in an area where we have fallen before) there is often a price to pay. Look at the consequences of Abraham's repeated sin. (1) Damage to his character. Abraham was caught in a lie. This would make it tougher to trust his word in the future. His character and integrity took a hit when he lied to the King. Integrity takes years to establish and only a moment to destroy. (2) Damage to his Testimony. Abraham compromised his ability to testify and minister in Gerar. He was supposed to bring blessing to the world . . . but here he is bringing judgment on them. (3) Damage to his relationship with Sarah. I mentioned this in Genesis 12. What message does Abraham send to Sarah as he willingly lets her go to the home of another man . . . knowing full well what the man's intentions are? Sin brings negative consequences. Some are external, some are internal. Some are public, some are private. God does not allow His children to sin without consequence. NET NOTE Apparently Abimelech assumes that God’s judgment will fall on his entire nation. Some, finding the reference to a nation problematic, prefer to emend the text and read, “Would you really kill someone who is innocent?” See E. A. Speiser, Genesis (AB), 149. Adonai (0136) 'adonay ’ādôn. Lord, Lord, Lord, master, owner. No doubt exists about the meaning of this word. The Ugaritic adn means "lord" or "father" and the Akkadian adannu carries a similar meaning, "mighty." In the simple unsuffixed form or when pointed ădōnî, or ădōna(y), for the first common singular suffix or with other pronominal suffixes, ādôn usually refers to men. Sarah used it in reference to her husband (Genesis 18:12), Lot used it in addressing the angelic visitors (Genesis 19:2). Abraham's servant repeatedly called his master by it in Genesis 24. The pharaoh of Egypt was called by this title (Genesis 40:1), as well as Joseph his "vizier" (Genesis 42:10). Ruth used it of Boaz before they were married (Ruth 2:13). Hannah addressed Eli the priest by this term (1 Samuel 1:15). Saul's servants called him by the title as well (1 Samuel 16:16). Likewise, officers less than the king, such as Joab, had this appellation (2 Samuel 11:9). In 1 Kings 16:24 there is the unique reading "Shemer, 'owner' of the hill, Samaria." The prophet Elijah bore the title "lord" (1 Kings 18:7). However, there are numerous passages, particularly in Psalms, where these forms, which are the only ones to apply to men, refer to God. Exodus 34:23 combines "the Lord, YHWH, the God of Israel" (hā’ādōn yhwh ’ĕlōhê yisrāēl). Deut. 10:17 uses both the singular and plural in the construction "Lord of lords" (’ădōnê hāădōnîm; cf. Psalm 136:3). In Psalm 8:1 [H 2] God has the title "YHWH our Lord" (yhwh ădōnênû). The Messiah bears this title in Psalm 110:1. (Harris, R L, Archer, G L & Waltke, B K Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. online TWOT) Genesis 20:5 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.” in the integrity: Jos 22:22 1Ki 9:4 2Ki 20:3 1Ch 29:17 Ps 7:8 25:21 78:72 Pr 11:3 20:7 2Co 1:12 1Th 2:10 1Ti 1:13 innocence: Job 33:9 Ps 24:4 26:6 73:13 Da 6:22 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 29:17 “Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. Psalm 101:2 I will give heed to the blameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. ABIMELECH'S DEFENSE Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity (tom) of my heart (lebab) and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” - Abimelech's defense before God is two-fold (1) that he was misled and misinformed and (2) that he acted in good conscience. The idea of integrity (tom) is completeness and here refers to his heart, which would say he has nothing to hide in his heart, that his heart is undivided regarding this issue. Bob
Gênesis 20
Cole - God is marked by holiness and grace. These two seemingly opposite traits are in perfect balance. God never sacrifices His holiness for grace, nor His grace for holiness. A. GOD IS MARKED BY HOLINESS. In His holiness, God struck Abimelech and all his household with some disease which prevented them from conceiving children and would have killed them, if Abimelech had not restored Sarah to Abraham. That’s pretty severe! But it shows how highly God values marriage and sexual purity within marriage. The text also reveals God as the source of all holiness. God tells Abimelech that the reason he didn’t sin was because God prevented it (Ge 20:6). We can never boast in our holiness, because any holiness we have is derived from the Lord. He is a holy God who takes sin seriously. Even though it would have been accidental from Abimelech’s point of view, it would have been sin from God’s perspective. God is holy and separate from all sin. But also... B. GOD IS MARKED BY GRACE. As the psalmist declares, “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (Ps. 130:3-4). God’s grace should never lead us to license, but to fear Him and to fear sinning. We see here God’s grace toward Abimelech. He was a relatively good man, as far as Canaanite kings in that day went. But he was a sinner, just like everyone else. God justly could have killed him to deliver Sarah. But He showed him grace. We also see God’s grace toward Abraham and Sarah. Sarah wasn’t as responsible as Abraham, since she didn’t devise this plan. But she consented to it. While it’s right for a wife to submit to her husband, it’s not right for her to submit to him in doing wrong. But in spite of their sin, God graciously blessed Abraham and Sarah, financially through Abimelech’s gifts, and with the birth of Isaac (Ge 21:1-7). God graciously was willing to be associated with Abraham, even in his sin, by calling Abraham his prophet. If I were God, I’d want to keep it quiet that Abraham knew me until this thing blew over. But God didn’t disown Abraham for this failure. In the many other references to Abraham in the Bible, God mentions his faith often, but He never mentions this sin. Amazing grace! Thank God that He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins! Because the Lord Jesus Christ bore the penalty we deserved, God is now free to deal with us in grace. Just as God sovereignly chose Abraham and blessed him in spite of his sins, so He has sovereignly chosen us and blesses us in spite of our sins. That shouldn’t make us be sloppy about our sin. It should make us want to be holy in order to please the God who loved us and gave Himself for us! Conclusion Juan Carlos Ortiz has captured the balance between God’s grace and our good works nicely. He writes (Leadership, Fall, 1984, p. 46.), Watching a trapeze show is breathtaking. We wonder at the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up and bounce back to the trapeze. In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, “Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren’t they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?” That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for all our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are works of God’s grace. Of course, we cannot be continually sleeping on the net. If that is the case, I doubt whether that person is a trapezist. Some of you may be on the net, discouraged by besetting sins. Look to God’s grace, confess your sin, accept His forgiveness, and get back on the trapeze. Or in the words of the author of Hebrews, after telling of the faith of Abraham, Sarah, and many others, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2). Discussion Questions Does God eradicate our sin nature? What does the Bible mean when it says we are dead to sin (Rom. 6:11; Col. 2:20; 3:3)? How would you answer the argument that if we can’t lose our salvation by sinning, then it will encourage us to sin more? How can we emphasize grace without encouraging licentiousness? Is it ever okay to lie (e.g., to protect someone else)? Genesis 20:18 For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Ge 20:7 12:17 16:2 30:2 1Sa 1:6 5:10 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries LORD OF CREATION CLOSES WOMBS For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife - Abraham and Sarah were in the line of Messiah and thus God protected Sarah's purity. Believer's Study Bible - This is a beautiful testimony of God's protection of a woman whose husband has put aside his responsibility (cf. 1 Pet. 3:7). God made certain that Sarah would know only her husband and would bear his child (cf. Ge 21:1).