GENESIS
CHAPTER
20
1. From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien, 2 Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
(Genesis chapter 20 verses 1 to 2)
Before referring to verses one and two of the twentieth chapter of the book of Genesis, I would like to invite anybody who wishes to share his or her experience of God in light of scripture, to do so, on the following email address. vincem20@gmail.com. Who wishes to give permission for it to be referred to in this blog in following chapters please include your consent. Names and other forms of identification are strictly confidential.
I am no theologian. My role is simply that of sharing the Word of God during my prayer time with all people who are interested and maybe, readers may experience the love of God as I have done and experience growth in their spiritual life.
While going back to verses one and two we can reflect on the fact, that although manifested himself to Abraham, he still kept using the half-truth or lie of his sister relationship with Sarah in order to save his skin and in doing so putting the life and well being of his wife at risk. As Christians we are to take care of both our spiritual, physical, social and psychological well-being and avoid putting our selves at unnecessary risk at all times.
3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, "You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a married woman."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 3)
Apparently it seems that God utterly disapproves of men who have relationships with other women especially married ones because this is taking others wives, bringing chaos into a union that was once approved by God forever. It is a direct violation of God's will.
4. Now Abimelech had not approached her: so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent people?
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 4)
Abimelech asked a very important question, making God's justice as being the big issue and not his sin of taking another man's wife. At times we also ask God questions especially during times of death or terminal illness or maybe a breakdown of a relationship. "Why me?" we ask God. However in his silence God knows the answer. He is a loving and just God who always knows the truth and what is good for us.
5. Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 5)
According to a film that I saw on Television called Abraham, the Pharaoh had the authority of taking any woman he desired as his wife and could even have intercourse with her. Therefore it was not to satisfy the integrity of his heart that he took Sarah as his wife. This reasoning can be classified as being a rationalization in order to justify his actions both previous and at the mentioned time. This is something that as humans we accustomed to do.
6. Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore 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, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.
(Genesis chapter 20 verses 6 to 7)
On reflecting, it can be said that God has a wiser vision than humans. According to God the Pharaoh acted in integrity but still it was God who restrained his carnal instincts in order to help avoid sin taking place. On the other hand we are given an example of positive behaviour in contrary to negative behaviour. Although the Pharaoh took Abraham's wife, which can be labelled as the negative act, God requires that Abraham prays for the salvation of the same Pharaoh in order to safeguard his well being. This is an echo of what Jesus in the new testament, that we are to pray for our enemies and not condemn or seek revenge. Even if another woman or man, has taken your wife or husband we are to pray for our competitor and not go to court to seek revenge or damage one's property or reputation for life.
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.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 8)
Verse eight raises a very important question that is in relation to our obedience towards God and society at large. Is it fear that compels us to obey or the fear of incurring some negative consequence? If we are driven by fear we are to reflect on why we do not place our trust in God and focus on obeying God and the laws of society that are based on Christian values (at least some of them are!)
9. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that ought not to be done."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 9)
As in the case of the Pharaoh when faced with an accusation instead of admitting our sins, we focus on how the other person has sinned against us, instead of taking responsibility for our part of the blame. During such moments we may even turn on God and blame Him for our downfalls in life.
10. And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 10)
As in the case of Abraham God questions our intentions more than our actions. Abimelech refers to Abraham's thoughts rather than his feelings, because thoughts are logical unlike feelings and emotions, and they tend to get us into alot of trouble if not controlled.
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.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 11)
At times we may also experience the same situation as Abraham. We may start judging others as being ungodly people, without considering that the world is one family and God is our father. Therefore before passing judgement on any body in any situation is to wise to consider that that person is our brother or sister and think again.
Although God assured Abraham that a nation will descend from his offspring, Abraham still referred to his own resources instead of trusting in God and His Holy Will.
12. Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 12)
When thinking Abraham used the same technique of the Devil. He said a half-truth or a half-lie or as it is labelled a 'white lie' in order to have it justified. Abraham admitted that Sarah was his sister, but not that in reality she was his 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.'
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 13)
At long last Abraham decides on the best policy that of saying the truth. As Jesus says in the New Testament 'The truth sets us free', moreover the truth has positive connotations, associated with it, while untruth has contrary consequences.
14. Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 14)
As Abimelech rewarded Abraham for having said the truth and saved the Pharaoh and his subjects from certain death, God also rewards us with his grace when we admit our sins especially at the time of confession. God's grace gives us freedom and the opportunity to be reunited with God and restore the inner harmony that was turned into chaos by our sin.
15. Abimelech said, "My land is before you; settle where it pleases you."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 15)
On reflecting Abimelech could have still been a pawn in the hands of evil. The Pharaoh was encouraging Abraham to settle in the land. This went in contrary to God's will for Abraham because God wanted him to be a vagrant and keep on wandering until he would arrive at the land, that God had promised him. The world also offers us great opportunities, however the outcome of the offer is not always positive or according to God's Will.
16. To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 16)
One may think that money is enough to compensate for sins or other forms of corruption, however on a material level, we may compensate, however on a spiritual level it is only confession that is enough to compensate for the consequences of sin.
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 fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
(Genesis chapter 20 verses 17 to 18)
Verse seventeen of the twentieth chapter of the book of Genesis, shows us the power of intercession, and that indeed creation depends totally on God, who has the power to enable and disable the faculty of creation. Moreover God is the source of all healing. Once we are in a negative state of sin, God's healing grace is somewhat difficult to reach us but not impossible although we close the doors of our heart, God can bring healing and penetrate the force of evil in us.
I would like to close this chapter with the following prayer;
4. Now Abimelech had not approached her: so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent people?
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 4)
Abimelech asked a very important question, making God's justice as being the big issue and not his sin of taking another man's wife. At times we also ask God questions especially during times of death or terminal illness or maybe a breakdown of a relationship. "Why me?" we ask God. However in his silence God knows the answer. He is a loving and just God who always knows the truth and what is good for us.
5. Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 5)
According to a film that I saw on Television called Abraham, the Pharaoh had the authority of taking any woman he desired as his wife and could even have intercourse with her. Therefore it was not to satisfy the integrity of his heart that he took Sarah as his wife. This reasoning can be classified as being a rationalization in order to justify his actions both previous and at the mentioned time. This is something that as humans we accustomed to do.
6. Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore 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, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.
(Genesis chapter 20 verses 6 to 7)
On reflecting, it can be said that God has a wiser vision than humans. According to God the Pharaoh acted in integrity but still it was God who restrained his carnal instincts in order to help avoid sin taking place. On the other hand we are given an example of positive behaviour in contrary to negative behaviour. Although the Pharaoh took Abraham's wife, which can be labelled as the negative act, God requires that Abraham prays for the salvation of the same Pharaoh in order to safeguard his well being. This is an echo of what Jesus in the new testament, that we are to pray for our enemies and not condemn or seek revenge. Even if another woman or man, has taken your wife or husband we are to pray for our competitor and not go to court to seek revenge or damage one's property or reputation for life.
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.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 8)
Verse eight raises a very important question that is in relation to our obedience towards God and society at large. Is it fear that compels us to obey or the fear of incurring some negative consequence? If we are driven by fear we are to reflect on why we do not place our trust in God and focus on obeying God and the laws of society that are based on Christian values (at least some of them are!)
9. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that ought not to be done."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 9)
As in the case of the Pharaoh when faced with an accusation instead of admitting our sins, we focus on how the other person has sinned against us, instead of taking responsibility for our part of the blame. During such moments we may even turn on God and blame Him for our downfalls in life.
10. And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?"
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 10)
As in the case of Abraham God questions our intentions more than our actions. Abimelech refers to Abraham's thoughts rather than his feelings, because thoughts are logical unlike feelings and emotions, and they tend to get us into alot of trouble if not controlled.
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.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 11)
At times we may also experience the same situation as Abraham. We may start judging others as being ungodly people, without considering that the world is one family and God is our father. Therefore before passing judgement on any body in any situation is to wise to consider that that person is our brother or sister and think again.
Although God assured Abraham that a nation will descend from his offspring, Abraham still referred to his own resources instead of trusting in God and His Holy Will.
12. Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 12)
When thinking Abraham used the same technique of the Devil. He said a half-truth or a half-lie or as it is labelled a 'white lie' in order to have it justified. Abraham admitted that Sarah was his sister, but not that in reality she was his 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.'
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 13)
At long last Abraham decides on the best policy that of saying the truth. As Jesus says in the New Testament 'The truth sets us free', moreover the truth has positive connotations, associated with it, while untruth has contrary consequences.
14. Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 14)
As Abimelech rewarded Abraham for having said the truth and saved the Pharaoh and his subjects from certain death, God also rewards us with his grace when we admit our sins especially at the time of confession. God's grace gives us freedom and the opportunity to be reunited with God and restore the inner harmony that was turned into chaos by our sin.
15. Abimelech said, "My land is before you; settle where it pleases you."
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 15)
On reflecting Abimelech could have still been a pawn in the hands of evil. The Pharaoh was encouraging Abraham to settle in the land. This went in contrary to God's will for Abraham because God wanted him to be a vagrant and keep on wandering until he would arrive at the land, that God had promised him. The world also offers us great opportunities, however the outcome of the offer is not always positive or according to God's Will.
16. To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.
(Genesis chapter 20 verse 16)
One may think that money is enough to compensate for sins or other forms of corruption, however on a material level, we may compensate, however on a spiritual level it is only confession that is enough to compensate for the consequences of sin.
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 fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
(Genesis chapter 20 verses 17 to 18)
Verse seventeen of the twentieth chapter of the book of Genesis, shows us the power of intercession, and that indeed creation depends totally on God, who has the power to enable and disable the faculty of creation. Moreover God is the source of all healing. Once we are in a negative state of sin, God's healing grace is somewhat difficult to reach us but not impossible although we close the doors of our heart, God can bring healing and penetrate the force of evil in us.
I would like to close this chapter with the following prayer;
Oh God I pray to you that the truth always dwells in me. May you be able to use me as a channel of your love and truth. You are the way and the truth, may we always remain on your road and live according to your ways.
Thank You God
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