Mt. Zion Freewill Baptist Church Bible Study December 19, 2024

The structure of the story is quite revealing. After a brief introduction (verses 1–2), there are three sets of conversations:

• God contends with Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) (3–8).

• Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) contends with Abraham (9–13).

• Conciliation is reached between Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) and Abraham (14–18).

1ST Verse: And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh (Kay desh) and Shur (Shoor), and sojourned in Gerar (GHEE rahr).

2ND Verse: And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) king of Gerar (GHEE rahr) sent, and took Sarah.

Abraham traveled from Mamre (MAM rih) to Gerar (GHEE rahr), a Philistine settlement west of the Dead Sea between Kadesh (KAY desh) and Shur (SHOOR), perhaps to get farther away from the devastated area where Sodom had been. Then, less than three months after God had promised that Sarah would bear Abraham a son (18:10), the patriarch gave his wife to Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) ! And Abraham said, Becaus e I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake (Gen. 20:11).

Abraham had previously told pharaoh that his wife was his sister (12:12–15); . This was not Abraham fist time telling the (Half-Truth) about Sarah was his sister not his wife.In Genesis the 12TH Chapter, at the time Abraham name was (Abram) and Sarah name was (Sarai SEHR igh (eye). Abraham kept lying about Sarah was his sister, because he was afraid they would kill him, to have Sarah. Genesis the 12TH Chapter 9TH thru the 20TH Verse:

9TH Verse: And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10TH Verse: And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

11TH Verse: And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

12TH Verse: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

13TH Verse: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

14TH Verse: And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

15TH Verse: The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.

16TH Verse: And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.

17TH Verse: And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.

18TH Verse: And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

19TH Verse: Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

20TH Verse: And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.

Later his son (Isaac) would try the same trick 26:7: When the men of that place asked about his wife, Isaac answered, “She’s my sister.” He was afraid to say “my wife.” He thought that the men of that place would kill him to get Rebekah, because she was an attractive woman.

3RD Verse: But God came to Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.

4TH Verse: But Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?

5TH Verse: Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.

6TH Verse: And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

7TH Verse: Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

8TH Verse: Therefore Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek)rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

God in his mercy intervened to keep his promise regarding Sarah (18:10) from being destroyed by Abraham’s foolish act. In addition to warning Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) that Sarah was married, the Lord had also created a health crisis in his household, causing all the other women to become temporarily sterile (v. 18). Because Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) had acted with a clear conscience and clean hands—despite accepting Sarah into his harem—God would not destroy Gerar’s (GHEE rahr) governmental leadership and thus undermine the nation.

Abraham is the first person to be called a prophet in the OT, though Enoch, who lived before him, is called a prophet in the NT (Jd 14). As Abraham’s intercession with God had saved Lot’s life (Gn 18:23–32; 19:29), so now his prayer for Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) would save his life.

8TH Verse: Therefore Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

9TH Verse: Then Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

10TH Verse: And Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?

11TH Verse: And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.

12TH Verse: And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

13TH Verse: And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

14TH Verse: And Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

15TH Verse: And Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

16TH Verse: And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

17TH Verse: So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek), and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

18TH Verse: For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek), because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

Nevertheless, from the final conversation it is clear that Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek) considers only himself to blame. He even appears to accept Abraham’s faulty excuse (in speaking to Sarah he calls Abraham ‘your brother’). Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek) therefore makes amends, not only giving Sarah back to her husband, but guaranteeing Abraham freedom of movement throughout the whole of his realm, and giving gifts that he was under no obligation to give. The sum of money given to Sarah is incredibly large, and is intended to justify her honour in the sight of all. To top it off, Abraham intercedes on behalf of Abimelech(uh BIM uh lek), and the king and his family are healed.

Quick Quiz:

1. Who Abraham trick?

A. Lot.

B. Adam.

C. Noah.

D. Abimelech (uh BIM uh lek).

2. Did Abraham tell truth or a lie about Sarah not his sister?

A. Yes.

B. No.

C. Half Lie and Half Truth.

3. What Chapter and Verse in the Book of Genesis it say (And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

A. Genesis 1:1.

B. Genesis 4:5.

C. Genesis 22:10.

D. Genesis 20:12.