Abraham and Abimelech

We have been following the life of Abraham and most recently Lot. God has blessed Abraham because of his faith

Those around Abraham were also blessed just by association.

Lot when he was there with him was blessed and when he left lost everything.

We saw God’s wrath against sin on Sodom and Gomorrah

Q: Have you ever felt like God might not support you even though you are obeying him?

Genesis 20:1–3 ESV

From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by 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.”

What happened?

After the event at Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham moves toward the toward the south of what will eventually be Israel.

Abraham has a great looking wife.

Fears that he will get killed so they can take his wife.

Says that she is his sister.

Is this likely?

Just read about all of the sexual in, and from the sin of Lot and his daughters.

God appears to the King in his sleep.

and says he and his entire family will dies if he doesnt return Sarah.

Remember, how long did God endure the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah?

My guess is very long.

God will punish anyone He must that raise themselves against His anointed people.

Q: Would you be more confident knowing that God can support you like He did Abraham?

David writing about God rescuing Abraham.

Psalm 105:12–15 ESV

When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

How God uses dreams.

Job 33:15–18 ESV

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man; he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Q: Has God ever sent you a dream to direct or warn you?

Lets continue

Genesis 20:4–7 ESV

Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 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.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

The king was innocent. God knew this.

What prevented the King from doing this?

God Sometimes prevents us from sinning.

Q: What do you think about that?

Even in the Kings innocence he told him to ask Abraham to pray that he and his family be spared.

God relied on Abraham to make the ultimate decsion.

Did God really want to kill these people? No

He can rely on those who know his heart and follow His ways.

Genesis 20:14–18 ESV

Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

How did things end up?