Sister Act 1 & 2

Story

Sister Act

Genesis 12:10–20 (NIV)

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Famine = curse

Egypt – anticipation of Exodus

11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

Bad husbanding

“They will kill me but let you live”

“That I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

God had already promised to preserve his life – he didn’t need to scheme

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai.

Sarah’s age

In 12:4 Abraham is 75

In 17:17 we learn Sarai is 10 years younger than him

Abraham’s plan works and he receives blessing, but his wife is taken into the palace

Because Pharaoh has plagues inflicted (unlike Abimelech) it’s best to understand that Sarai was sadly forced into full participation in the harem of Pharaoh

18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.

Abraham’s plan doesn’t work,

Pharaoh finds out

Sarai is mistreated

Abraham is still protected – he would have been fine if he was faithful

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Genesis 20:1–18 (NIV)

1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

Difference: No famine; still in Canaan

Abimelek is a very general name that belongs to lots of people

Means “My father is king”

3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”

Difference with Pharaoh: God comes to Abimelek in a dream

The narrative affirms his innocence

Ignorance

Clear conscience and clean hands

God kept him from sinning

Perhaps using disease (v. 17)

Demand to return Sarai or die

8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” 10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”

Abimelek puts the blame squarely on Abraham

Abraham’s reason

They didn’t fear the Lord

Ironically, Abimelek has demonstrated he did while Abraham didn’t

Sarai was his sister

This was apparently a normal part of their relationship

14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18 for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Abimelek blesses Abraham

God bless Abimelek

Implications

1. God is constantly faithful to his promises

We sing about God’s faithfulness on Sunday, but life happens in the gap between Sundays. Do we trust him then?

Though Abraham is noted for his faith he here demonstrates his lack of faith

The emphasis of this passage is on God’s faithfulness

Those who curse Abraham are cursed. Those who bless him are blessed.

Abraham’s inconsistency is contrasted with God’s consistency

Emphasizing the unconditional nature of God’s promise

2. God is doing something

The curse is still in effect

Famine

Marital strife

The plan to reverse the curse is still underway

God preserves Sarai and Abraham’s marriage

There will be a better Abraham one who gives his life for his bride rather than sacrificing his bride’s life for his own