Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech
1Now Abraham journeyed from there to the region of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar, 2Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.
3One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
4Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he replied, “Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? 5Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”
6Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have also kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
Abraham moved, possibly because he didn’t want to overlook the ruined plain of Sodom and Gomorrah and be reminded of the people that died there?
Just like us, Abraham falls again into a familiar sin and we see that God still considered him to be a prophet. He intervened because through Abraham’s seed the Messiah would be born and HE didn’t want anyone to question if it was Abimelech.
Sarah was 90 years old and was considered beautiful. Was it because God was rejuvenating her for the Promise?
The warning! “But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
And the prayer! ..”for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live.”
A twofer!
Blessings, David
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