Genesis 20

       Once again, Abraham displays an amazing lack of faith and trust in God’s ability to protect and sustain him and his family. Once again, he and his household leave their current homestead, and this time they “…journeyed thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.” (v.1) The text doesn’t say why Abraham and Sarah leave the plain of Mamre, but whatever the case, Abraham falls back into his old habit of lying about his marriage to Sarah because he fears for his life should any of the foreign men take a liking to Sarah because of her beauty.
       It should be noted here that Sara was almost 90 years old. Either Abraham was still so much in love with his wife that she was as beautiful now to him as she was several decades earlier when they were first married, which is often the case with married couples who have been together this long; or Sarah truly was an unusually beautiful woman who appeared to be many years younger than her actual age.
        Whatever the case, the king of Gerar, Abimelech, saw Sarah and, believing Abraham’s lie, took her to be his wife. Once again, the very thing Abraham had feared came to be true. We should also remember that Abraham’s status and wealth is consistently growing, due to God’s promise to bless him and his household, and, as a consequence, his name is known among the nations and peoples of Canaan. The is especially true after the events of chapter 14. Perhaps this is why Abraham was so afraid of the foreign kings capturing Sarah. Though he was a relatively wealthy and somewhat famous man in this region, he may not have had a large enough army to adequately defend Sarah and his household from any king or nobleman that decided to take Sarah – as well as any other goods or money – by force. But this only reinforces the fact that Abraham should have trusted in God to protect him and his household wherever they sojourned.
        Just as He did in Egypt, God directly intervened here, this time by appearing to Abimelech in a dream and revealing the truth of Sarah’s marriage to Abraham. (v.3) Abimelech, who had not yet slept with Sarah, defends himself, pointing out that she told him Abraham was her brother. (v.5) God does not punish the king for his error, telling Abimelech that it was for that reason that He had withheld the king’s sexual desire. (v.6). He tells Abimelech that He will not punish him or his house if he restores Sarah to Abraham immediately. (v.7) For the first time in scripture, God uses the title of “prophet” when referring to Abraham, telling Abimelech that Abraham will pray on his behalf if the king returns Sarah to him. But if the king refuses, he and all his house will surely die.
        (Verse 4 has an interesting phrase, a question from Abimelech: “Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?” Once again, we are given a hint that God has appeared to – and regularly speaks with – other men besides Abraham in this time period.)
         Early the next morning, Abimelech summons all his household and tells them of Abraham’s deception. All the servants become frightened at the prospect of God’s wrath, and Abimelech orders them to bring Abraham before him immediately. (v.8) Abimelech demands of Abraham an explanation for why he brought such trouble to his household and kingdom. “How have I offended you?” he asks, and then rightly points out that Abraham has greatly offended him by bring upon his kingdom this great sin. (v.9)
         Abraham claims, “Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.” (v.11) He then goes on to say that Sarah is indeed his sister, but only by half. They have the same father but different mothers. (v.12) He then concludes by saying he was afraid for both their lives if it was known that they were married. (v.13)
         While Abraham’s defense is weak, Abimelech seems to accept this reasoning, and though scripture doesn’t record his verbal response, it does say in verses 14-16 that he gives Abraham livestock, servants, and a thousand pieces of silver. He also gives his permission for Abraham to settle anywhere he chooses in the king’s land. Verse 16 also confirms that Sarah was vindicated and all shame removed from her by the king’s actions.
          The last two verses of this chapter reveal something else that God had done to Abimelech and his household as a consequence of Abraham’s deception. The wombs of all the women had been closed up, and Abraham now prays to the Lord on their behalf. Verse 17 states, “God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.”
        And so, once more, Abraham stumbles in his walk with God, displaying weak faith, and God corrects him while also graciously blessing him and all his house.