INTRODUCTION: The narrative now turns to Abraham as he stumbles and fails to trust the Lord. While his life was certainly more productive than Lot's, no man is free of indwelling sin in this life [Romans 7:18-24]. Let us humbly remember that we stand by God's grace and daily pray for deliverance from sin [Matthew 6:13]. May the consideration of our own weakness lead us to be meek in our treatment of the erring saint [Galatians 6:1].I. ABRAHAM'S MOVE - verse 1.
Abraham lived as a pilgrim in the land, yet we do not know what occasioned this move. Perhaps the destruction of Sodom made the whole area unpleasant.II. A COMPLICATION - verse 2.
Problems arose when the king of Gerar took Sarah as a prospective wife. Abraham had caused this by passing her off as his sister. She was in fact his half-sister and his wife.Note now several matters of concern:
A. Sins and weaknesses must be mortified [Romans 13:14], or they will bring future failure into our lives. Earlier in life Abraham had used this same compromising tactic rather than trusting God [Genesis 12:10-20]. Now we see him falling again because he had never truly conquered this sin [Genesis 20:13]. He should have prayed and sought God's help with this rather that leaving the door open for future trouble.B. A sad thought is that our sin affects others. Children are often led astray by the bad example of their parents [Exodus 20:5]. Years later Isaac fell into this very sin at this same place [Genesis 26:6-11].
C. The question has often been asked as to why Abimelech wanted Sarah. There are two possible answers to this:
1. Sarah had been a beautiful woman [Genesis 12:10]. Perhaps her beauty was divinely restored as God prepared her to conceive Isaac.2. Abimelech may have wanted to marry her for political reasons. Abraham was a great and wealthy man. Marriage has often been used in history to create alliances.
III. DIVINE INTERVENTION - verses 3-7.
God is jealous over his people and especially His servants [Matthew 18:6; Psalms 105:15; Isaiah 54:17]. God had a plan for Abraham that Abimelech was about to interrupt. Abraham was not justified in all of his behavior, but God's plan for him must go on. Had Abimelech taken Sarah as his wife neither Isaac, the nation of Israel, nor Jesus Christ our Lord would ever have been born. God's purpose cannot be hindered, but sometimes it seems to hang by a thread.Notice here another angle of truth. Abimelech was kept from falling into sin because God knew the rectitude of his heart. He did not know that Sarah was married. There is a real lesson here. Many temptations and sins lurk before us. God delivers the humble and prayerful from them [Proverbs 16:18; Matthew 6:13]. He may allow the proud to fall as a punishment or chastisement.
IV. ABIMELECH QUESTIONS ABRAHAM - verses 8-13.
God knows how to speak to men in a way that will make an impression. Abimelech knew that the God of all power had spoken and that he had no recourse but to obey. Note in verse 8 that even Abimelech's servants took the message absolutely seriously. All of this reminds us of two things that Abraham forgot:
A. The Universal Sovereignty Of God. - In verse 11, Abraham explained his fear by stating that he believed there was no fear of God in Gerar. He seemed to feel that because he was in a place where God was not feared that he was beyond God's protection. He forgot that we can never go beyond the presence and power of God [Psalms 139]. God can work on the mind and direct the path of any man at any time [Proverbs 21:1]. Not even Satan can do anything to God's children that is not permitted by God [Luke 22:31]. This is the theme of the books of Job, Daniel and Esther.B. He forgot that those who have faith in God need not fear man. The fear of man will always cause us to stumble and sin [Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 1:17].
V. ABIMELECH MAKES RECOMPENSE - verses 14-16.
Abimelech having been rebuked by God was quick to make restitution. Not only was Sarah returned, but gifts were bestowed upon Abraham as an apology and recompense for what had happened. While all this might seem unfair to Abimelech, let us remember that Abraham may have been correct in his judgment of the people of Gerar. Maybe they would have slain Abraham. His fault was in trusting his own schemes rather than God.VI. ABRAHAM INTERCEDES - verses 17-18.
Abraham was not perfect, but he was God's child. He could pray because he knew how to approach God through Christ. The public success of his prayer was permitted to be seen because God wished all to know that Abraham was His chosen vessel.
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