Genesis 20 – It’s A Thin “Bloodline” Between Sister And Wife

 Abraham journeys to the South. He dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. Abraham said that Sarah was his sister (just like he did in Genesis 12). Abimelech, king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. Even in her older age, Sarah still must have been “drop dead gorgeous.” Just my opinion, but it seems as if Abraham is more concerned with “saving” his own life (again) than Sarah’s well-being.  

God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and told him that he was a dead man because the woman he took is a man’s wife. However, Abimelech had not gone near Sarah. Abimelech asked the Lord if He would slay a righteous nation also. He claimed his innocence because Abraham said, “She is my sister” and Sarah said, “He is my brother.” Abimelech said, “In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart…” God told him that He kept him for sinning against Him and therefore, He did not allow Abimelech to touch Sarah.  How many times have you really wanted to do something that you knew was wrong and God kept you from sinning? God gave you the way of escape (I Corinthians 10:13). God told Abimelech to give Sarah back to Abraham because he is a prophet. God said that Abraham will pray for him and he shall live. However, if Abimelech didn’t give her back, he would die and all those who belong to him would die also. 

Abimelech rose early the next morning and called all of his servants and told them all that God said. The men were very afraid. He called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us?” He asked Abraham how did he offend him that he brought such a great sin on him and his kingdom. Abimelech accused Abraham of doing deeds to him that should not have been done. He basically asked him what was he thinking when he did this.

Abraham said that he thought the fear of God was not in Gerar and that he would be killed on account of his wife. Then Abraham explains that Sarah is his sister because she is his father’s daughter, but not his mother’s daughter and she became his wife.  So, does having the same mother make you a closer sibling than having the same father? Maybe not biologically, but it could because of the closeness of the relationship. In today’s world, most of the time, if you have the same mother and different fathers, you probably will grow up together. But if you have the same father and different mothers, chances are you may not be as close. The above is not always the case, but more often than not. So, maybe it was the same in Abraham’s day and therefore, it was acceptable for him and Sarah to marry. So, Abraham said when God told him to leave his father’s house, he told Sarah that she should, out of kindness to him, say that he is her brother everywhere they went.

Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, oxen and servants (male and female) and he gave Sarah back to him as well. Abimelech told Abraham that he could dwell anywhere he wanted to in the land. He told Sarah that he had given her brother a 1,000 pieces of silver and that vindicated her in the eyes of everybody. Therefore she was rebuked (reprimanded for her role in the situation). I noticed also that Abimelech didn’t refer to Abraham as her husband, but as her brother. My Study Bible suggests that this was being sarcastic.

Abraham prayed to God and He healed Abimelech, his wife, and the female servants. They could have children, again. God had closed up all the wombs of Abimelech’s house. So Abraham and Sarah had to be in Gerar for several months for them to realize that nobody was having babies after Abimelech took Sarah. Also, it’s ironic that their punishment was not having children (no new pregnancies) as Sarah was still barren at this time also. 

The next stop – Genesis 21

To God Be The Glory!

Share this: