Genesis 20
Genesis 20 records the events that took place when Abraham moved to the land of Gerar. Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, as his sister, and although the king of Gerar, Abimelech, took Sarah, God protected Sarah’s purity by appearing to Abimelech in a dream and warning him. As a result, the misunderstanding between Abraham and Abimelech is resolved, and God removes the calamities that had been inflicted on Abimelech and his household.
1verseAbraham traveled from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived as a foreigner in Gerar.
2verseAbraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3verseBut God came to Abimelech in a dream of the 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.”
4verseNow Abimelech had not come near her. He said, “Lord, will you kill even a righteous nation?
5verseDidn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister’? She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.”
6verseGod said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her.
7verseNow therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.”
8verseAbimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared.
9verseThen Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!”
10verseAbimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”
11verseAbraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place. They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’
12verseBesides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13verseWhen God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14verseAbimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his wife, to him.
15verseAbimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you.”
16verseTo Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are vindicated.”
17verseAbraham prayed to God. So God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
18verseFor the LORD had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Structure and Key Flow of the Passage
- Abraham’s fear and mistake (verses 1–2): Because of Sarah’s beauty, Abraham fears that he will be harmed, so he says that Sarah is his sister.
- God’s intervention (verses 3–7): God appears to Abimelech in a dream, reveals that Sarah is Abraham’s wife, and warns him that death will come if he does not return her to him.
- Confirmation of the truth and restoration (verses 8–18): Abimelech rebukes Abraham, and Abraham also explains his fear and reasons. Abimelech returns Sarah and also gives compensation. As a result, God lifts the calamities that had been inflicted on Abimelech’s household.
The Overall Meaning of This Chapter
Genesis 20 contrasts human weakness with God’s faithfulness. Despite Abraham’s repeated mistakes, God keeps His promise and protects Sarah. It also emphasizes how God works to prevent His purposes from being thwarted by people’s mistakes. God directly intervenes in Abimelech’s dream, ensuring that God’s covenant promise is preserved through a serious crisis.
Reflection Points
- You can reflect on what results Abraham’s fear and human methods bring about.
- Consider how God’s intervention and protection are revealed even within human weakness.
- You can think about how God’s faithfulness and the weakness of believers appear together.
Personal Application
- Reflect on whether I have ever, out of fear, made falsehoods or compromises, and learn how to trust in God’s protection.
- Even with mistakes and weakness, remember the grace that God continues to care for me, and I can resolve to live with courage, trusting in God’s guidance.
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