Bible Discussion Thread

Verse 18 says that Abraham was not sure if the fear of the Lord was in this place. that is why I think Abraham and Sarah presented Sarah as his sister, to test and see if the inhabitants fear god, and if they don't, God will cause them to have this fear and respect.

I like that God said that Abraham is a prophet. He knew that Abimelech would respect Abraham as God's chosen man since God agreed that Abimelech had integrity. Glad that Abimelech accepted Abraham to pray for him. He was able to see God's restoration of is household with wombs being opened. Just wondering, was Sarah's opened at that time also?

I've always understood this account by focussing on verse 11, "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." It seemed that since Abraham moved to Gerar, maybe for better pastures for his livestock, he may have feared for his life since Sarah was "fair to look upon". It would have been common then for the rulers to pick off any woman they desired & if they were married, to bump off the husband so they would be free to marry. Doesn't King David's lust for Bathsheba ring bells here? So Abraham worked on it & decided that since she is my half-sister, then that's what she will be for now.

This same fear arose earlier in Genesis 12:9-20 with Abraham's encounter in Egypt with the Pharaoh. So he used this 'deception' to pass Sarah off as his sister, so that his life might be spared. Very noble of him, would you say?!! But as you stated, Abraham wasn't judged for this deception, which was in fact a half-truth.

Chris,

Thanks again for your input. I was wondering about verse 13 where he explains that he and Sarah agreed to employ this strategy since leaving for their journey when God first called him out of Ur or Haran. This seems to be a "winning" strategy and God blesses him when he uses it. that is why e may have been advised by God to do so. To say that she is his sister is not a lie. But not telling that she s his wife is permissible unless the other person asked him directly if she was his wife. Abraham trusted God to protect Sarah, it seems. That is why i think God had advised Abraham to do this. But the text does not say this and Abraham is not called on this by God.

Chris I don't see that scripturally Abraham told the truth he just didn't tell all that he knew which is wisdom in Genesis 20:12 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.

Thank you GiGi & David for those added thoughts. These types of things lie in that 'grey' area of what is right, wrong, or permissible - and each one has to have a good conscience before God in those matters. I often think that I'm too sensitive over such things in my personal life & this sensitivity can rub off when reading other narratives. But in the end, the Lord knows our hearts & He will make it abundantly clear to us by His Spirit within us.