After Abraham deceived Abimelech, Abimelech confronted Abraham. This devotional reading looks at Abraham’s defense and the resolution.
Nuggets
- Abimelech had two arguments in his defense.
- Jehovah acknowledged that Abimelech had not done nothing wrong – but only because He hadn’t allowed it.
- Abimelech defended himself, but he immediately returned Sarah to Abraham.
- Abimelech called Abraham out on his actions, and Abraham defended himself.
- Abimelech gives Abraham many gifts.
- God had Abraham intercede for Abimelech.
We left our patriarch in a pickle. Abraham had deceived Abimelech, and Jehovah called Abimelech on it. Now it was Abimelech’s time to confront Abraham.
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Devotions in the Abraham the Patriarch series
Abimelech Defends Himself
“But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, ‘Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean” (Gen. 20: 4-5 NLT)
Abimelech had two arguments in his defense.
We can see Abimelech’s outrage. He was just acting on the information he had been given. There was no way he would know if it was truth or a lie.
Isn’t that how we comfort ourselves? We make the best decision we can with the information that we have at that time. What else can we do?
Besides, Abimelech hadn’t slept with Sarah yet.
It doesn’t seem that Abimelech had any trouble understanding what the dream meant. A God was talking to Him, albeit one he didn’t know.
But as a pagan, Abimelech may have believed that there were many gods. Some believed each region had their own gods. As Abraham was from a different region, Abimelech may have thought that this was Abraham’s God – which it was.
Still, that would have been something foreign to Abimelech. Yes, they believed there were gods over regions, but they didn’t believe that those gods could function outside of those regions. To have one to come with Abraham all this way would have been unnormal.
Whatever Abimelech thought, he knew he was talking to a god. “But Avimelech had not come near her; and he said, Adonoi, wilt Thou slay also a goy tzaddik [non-Jew righteous one]? (Gen. 20: 4 OJB).
See. Abimelech gave Jehovah the title Adonoi – Lord.
God’s Response
“In the dream God responded, ‘Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die’” (Gen. 20: 6-7 NLT)
Jehovah acknowledged that Abimelech had not done nothing wrong – but only because He hadn’t allowed it.
So, what Jehovah was saying was, if Abimelech would have bedded Sarah, he would have suffered the death penalty. Not knowing Sarah’s status wasn’t enough to commute the sentence.
In this instance, Jehovah accepted Abimelech’s ignorance in the situation. That is not always the case.
But the ball was in Abimelech’s court. If he would have pursued the path that led to bedding Sarah, he would have been put to death by Jehovah.
It is interesting that God would call Abraham a prophet. We think of him as Patriarch, not a seer.
God gave Abimelech the opportunity to do what was right.
We talked about Abimelech being a Gentile, not a Jew. But I don’t think that can make us automatically lump Abimelech in with the sinners.
Even if Abimelech didn’t acknowledge God as Sovereign Lord, he listened to Him when he came to him in the dream. He did what God said – and immediately.
Plus, Jehovah recognized his intentions. We can’t judge someone else’s relationship with Jehovah. We don’t know their hearts or intentions.
We can only make sure we have a right relationship with Jehovah.
Making It Right
“Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified” (Gen. 20: 8 NLT)
Abimelech defended himself, but he immediately returned Sarah to Abraham.
Hmmm. I bet Abimelech was ticked at Abraham. Abimelech could have died because Abraham lied.
Abimelech probably knew Jehovah meant business. If he didn’t immediately return Sarah to Abraham, He would make good His word and make Abimelech a dead man.
We have to give Abimelech his due. It quickly set up getting Sarah back.
Yes, Abimelech did have to explain what had happened. No, kings don’t always have to explain themselves, but I think it was wise for him to explain his actions.
Called Out
“Then Abimelech called for Abraham. ‘What have you done to us?’ he demanded. ‘What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?’ Abraham replied, ‘I thought, “This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.” And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, “Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother”’” (Gen. 20: 9-13 NLT)
Abimelech called Abraham out on his actions, and Abraham defended himself.
Abimelech didn’t mince words with Abraham. He said that people just don’t do this to others.
Abraham was allowed to defend himself. The problem was that it showcased his doubt that God would protect them.
The fact that Sarah really was Abraham’s sister caused him to believe he really wasn’t telling a lie.
Well, yes. Sarah was Abraham’s sister, but it was a lie because she was his wife, also.
But Abraham’s insecurities all stemmed from him believing Abimelech was a godless man. Instead of fearing for his life this time, Abraham said that he was afraid Abimelech didn’t reverence God.
No amount of whining from Abraham was going to make it less a lie. He should have just left it at, “I lied.”
I had missed this before. Abraham blamed this on God. “When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place …” (Gen. 20: 13 NLT).
That isn’t a smart thing to do.
The choice was Abraham’s. He could have chosen to tell the truth, but he chose to lie.
Restitution
“Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. Then Abimelech said, ‘Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.’ And he said to Sarah, ‘Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared’” (Gen. 20: 14-16 NLT)
Abimelech gives Abraham many gifts.
Once again, Abraham was rewarded handsomely for lying. Abimelech gave him everything the Pharaoh gave him except donkeys and camels.
Instead, Abimelech gave Abraham 1,000 pieces of silver. That wasn’t too shabby.
Well, at least Abraham wasn’t kicked out of the country this time. He just got loot again – making him even more wealthy.
But don’t we question when Jehovah rewards sinful behavior? We question why Abraham should have – again – increased his wealth for telling a lie.
Another Intercessory Prayer
“Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah (Gen. 20: 17-18 NLT)
God had Abraham intercede for Abimelech.
What Abraham was interceding for was for the ability of Abimelech’s wives and concubines to become pregnant. Hmmmm.
Bradford thought that meant this story took several months to transpire. That makes sense to me.
If the consequence was done in a night, it wouldn’t be much of a consequence. It had to be felt.
God had Abraham pray for Abimelech for a couple of reasons. We build that faith by spending time with God in prayer. Even though Abraham was righteous, there was more work needed to be done in him.
Bradford addressed another reason why the prayer was needed. He wrote, “For the idea was that the innocent Abraham would plead on the guilty Abimelech’s behalf, and since Abraham was a righteous man, God would listen.”
Resource
Think about it this way. Abraham had to be gracious and truthful in praying for Abimelech. If he rebelled about what Jehovah would have him do, He wouldn’t answer the prayer.
But remember. Jehovah called Abraham a prophet. This after calling him His friend.
I wonder if part of the reason was because the last time Abraham tried to intercede – for Sodom and Gomorrah – it didn’t go so well.
Remember, the 20 questions that Abraham asked Jehovah about finding the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. That was him interceding with Him.
In reality, Abraham was interceding for Lot. That was accomplished. But his prayer was also for the whole cities of the plains. That didn’t succeed.
But as he stood looking at the smoke across the plain (Gen. 19: 28), Abraham’s heart had to be breaking.
Did Abraham think Jehovah hadn’t answered his prayer? Did He ignore his intercession?
At that point, Abraham didn’t know Lot’s fate. He probably felt his intercessory prayers wouldn’t be answered.
God wanted to prove differently to Abraham.
Making the Connections #1
Have you ever contrasted Abraham’s actions with Abimelech’s?
Abraham didn’t trust God. Abimelech respectfully defended himself and obeyed.
Abraham lied. Abimelech’s actions were virtuous.
Abraham disrespected Sarah as a wife, a woman, and his son’s mother. Abimelech actions demonstrated equity.
Abraham reacted in fear. Abimelech reacted in moderation.
The thing is that Abimelech only looks better on the outside. He hadn’t received a transformation on the inside.
Abimelech was not righteous where Abraham was.
If Abimelech would have been a true child of Jehovah, we would probably have learned more about in in consequent chapters.
But no. Abimelech rides off into the sunset.
The Biblical Illustrator makes a good point. The Prejudice said part of the problem was Abraham’s arrogant attitude. He felt superior to Abimelech because he was righteous and Abimelech wasn’t.
Resource
How many times do disciples rail over Jehovah giving blessings to non-believers? But that isn’t how He works.
Making the Connections #2
Leale had some great points.
- Disciples aren’t the only ones who know right from wrong.
- Societal values also exhibit ethical principles, such as compassion and integrity.
- Relationships are also based on moral relations.
- Society also requires restitution when wrongs have been committed.
Resource
Again, it is not the actions that determines our status with God. It is our inward transformation to restore our relationship with God.
Making the Connections #3
Bradford said something interesting. He wrote, “We have in these actions a type and pattern of Moses being developed for us.”
Resource
How many times did Moses have to intercede for the Wilderness Wanderers?
Jehovah wants us to pray for others. He doesn’t want us to buckle when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we pray them.
How Do We Apply This?
- Work to eliminate the effects of our sins.
- Acts committed are not as important as the life lived.
Resource
Father God. We get ourselves into so many difficult situations. Thank You for when You rescue us. Help us to fully trust You at all times. Amen.
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