Genesis Chapter 20 Discussion

God's is all knowing

"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." Genesis 20:7 KJV

(even in the midst of Abraham's deceit God intervened and protected both him and his wife Sarah)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." Isaiah 54:17 KJV

(my learning from this is to trust God, as in the scriptures:)

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 KJV

"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalms 62:8 KJV

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26 KJV

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

Wow, I just read and listened to the bible with new eyes and new ears. I know now that the God of love I believe in, is the same God of love in this time of Genesis. I did not live back then. I live now. I saw God's love and caring for man in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Off topic perhaps, is my wondering about the word "the" I am building a case in my mind that "the" means "true God is Love, not false gods. And it's all okay. It is okay back in the (God love)time of Genesis and it is true now. Another name for God is Love. Another name for God is Life. Life then and Life now. Does this make any sense?

This chapter repeats the error that Abraham consented to with his wife in his earlier travels "down south". Apparently, after all of God's promises of granting him an heir through His wife he still wasn't convinced that he didn't have to make up some narrative going into foreign lands so that he wasn't killed for his wife's sake. Sarah must have been a very beautiful woman of 90 something at that time. The custom at that time was to have more than one wife; and apparently there was little formality other than taking someone in who a king would desire to complete that process. The plagues that are threatened included closing up the wombs of the King of Abimalech's wife and maidservants; so this was a rather lengthy stay until this dream and realization occurred. The "agreement" which Abraham made likely had many similar scenarios to the two chapters covering it in Genesis as apparently WHEREVER he went she was expected to consent to this spineless request; essentially putting her in a compromised position to being violated to save his skin. In any event; because it was God's prophet he ended up being better off materially after this event than before. Sarah herself was reproved by the PAGAN king and he was prayed for to restore the childbearing afterwards. After this Isaac was finally born; and her status as a mother could no longer be hidden. In any event; this shows God's patience with our obstinate tendencies to rely on the flesh to accomplish His purposes. Her act of complicity was finally exposed as well.

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.

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.

Hi Gigi Just an additional point Sarah was not only Abrahams wife but also sister Genesis 20:12 so it wasn't an agreement but she was both, also as you have shared when you look at abraham's walk with God many times God told Him what to do and with lot we see an example of how men of God fight for other people. It's interesting that when Abraham and lot separated lot didn't ask God which direction to go in also in chapter 13:14 God told Abraham that basically because you believe I'm backing you no matter where you go. Sounds like the same promise we have as Christians when we are walking in obedience to the spirit.

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.

I noticed in the text that Abraham and Sarah had made an agreement for her to be called Abraham's sister since they first left Ur or Haran when God called them to go to a new place to live. I doubt that their visit to Egypt and this incident with Abimelech were the only times they had used this strategy. Perhaps God had told Abraham to do this. Abraham was called God's friend and so talked far more than recorded in Scripture. We do not know all of the content of conversations they had. Since God blessed Abraham after both of these encounters instead of disciplining him, I think God wanted Abraham and Sarah to say this to leaders they encounter. There was a reason God made Sarah so beautiful and desirable even in to her older years.

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?

Greeting in the awesome name of the Lord our God! I have read the comments on this chapter. Thank you for contributing! In this chapter, once again Abraham and Sarah agree for her to say she is Abraham's sister when encountering another magistrate from the surrounding area, like in Egypt. Many seem concerned about Sarah actually being Abraham's half sister. I think this was common in tribal cultures. God did not condemn the relationship and protects both Sarah and Abraham. In Ur, when Abraham married Sarah, there may not have been available relatives from the line of Nahor his grandfather living in the area for him to choose a wife from. Or he relatives of Abrahams grandfather and uncles who lived in the area may have already been married or were too steeped in the pagan religions of the area and therefore were not suitable for Abraham for God's purposes.

In revisiting these chapters on Abraham once again now wonder if God had told Abraham to have Sarah say she is his sister in order that the magistrates in the respective kingdoms would be put in a position to to have to discover the power of The God of Abraham. The Pharoah in Egypt did not want to take another man's wife, but still sickness came to his household and he needed to inquire of Abraham. This gave God the opportunity to show the Pharoah His power and Abraham's favor by God. Pharaoh recognized the supremacy of Abraham's God and showered him with riches as Abraham left the area. A healthy respect was created in Pharaoh for God. He knew not to mess with Abraham.

With Abimelech, not intending to take another man's wife had good intention and God spoke to him in a dream. He, too, was able to learn that the God of Abraham was real and powerful and that this God favored Abraham. He needed to inquire of Abraham just like Pharaoh, and learned to respect both God and Abraham for future meetings, (which probably occurred) sending Abraham away with the choice of the land to tend his flocks.

"KETURAH"

Scripture References- Genesis 25:1-6; 1 Chronicles 1:32, 33

Name Meaning-Incense

After the death of his beloved Sarah, Abraham took as his third wife, if we count Hagar as a wife, Keturah, a young woman.

When Sarah died, and Isaac his son married, doubtless Abraham now an old man was very lonely and remarried for the sake of companionship. Keturah is called a concubine ( 1 Chronicles 1:32). Her name is like Kezia, a perfume name. She became the mother of Abraham's six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah who became the progenitors of six Arabian tribes of Southern and Eastern Palestine. Ancient Israelites regarded the Arabs as distant relatives. It was through Keturah's offspring that Abraham became "the father of many nations." The patriarch in his declining years was surrounded by a woman's care and love, and a circle of dear children. Kuyper, writing of the relationships between Abraham and Keturah, says that we cannot think of it as being romantic. It was a marriage in which a less passionately vehement love attains high ethical qualities.

Comment by Mishael:

Some say that Abraham went and brought Ishmaels mother, Hagar, back into the family tent. They did NOT have any other children. Ishmael was Hagars only child.

That can't be right because he married Keyturah, had 6 children with her. They are listed in Abrahams Geneology.

So, your accusation of incest is not truth.

Always read the genealogies!

Abraham married half sister was this not incest ?

Hi Joe, why do you assume that?

Sounds like good is evil

Very good and true points. "The Bible gives the history of people, which includes the good and bad of what they did. People did much evil then just like people do much evil today " That's why we all need Christ.

Jack, as you know, in Psalm 111:9, the word 'Reverend' is given as a descriptive word for God. The word is taken from the verb, to revere. And used in its purest sense, that word can only be a applied to a deity, as some pantheists apply it to worshipping their god & of course, as Christians, to worshipping our God. Some also take umbrage to the word 'awesome' as it is used so liberally these days. As they say, that the word is to be applied to God only, as His people can only view Him in awe & wonder to His Holiness & Glory & not to be used to described another person or object.

So when we read of Reverend So & So, it is sadly a title given to one who has qualified through biblical studies or in such a position in the Church that demands such a title. It is not used in the NT Church & yet the use of the word 'bishop' in Phil 1:1, 1 Tim 3:1, Tit 1:7, etc., is simply the English form of the Greek, Episkapos, commonly used generally for an elder, pastor or overseer of the Church. However, it has now become more of a high-ranking Church official who governs a large number of Churches.

Jack in Psalms 111:9 He (Lord) sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

per my understanding only the Lord is to be called reverend.

It comes from this root word: REVE'RE, verb transitive [Latin revereor; re and vereor, to fear.]

To regard with fear mingled with respect and affection; to venerate; to reverence; to honor in estimation.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Who may be called "Reverend"?

The scriptures are the infallible word of God. It is inspired and written by Holy men who were chosen and moved spiritually to reveal Gods word. I rest my whole faith my whole being on His word. This is more than a book. In it you will find eternal life! You will find salvation in no other than the prophecy and death and Resurrection found in the history of the salvation of mankind through the Son of God.

Hello, the Bible gives the history of people, which includes the good and bad of what they did. Are you assuming that because the Bible covers history that it somehow recommends advocates for it? If so, that would be a false assumption. People did much evil then just like people do much evil today and the Bible talked about it. There's many stories of hope and encouragement like Paul converting from a murderer to a loving person who spent the rest of his life trying to help others. So, the Bible is not 'bad' because it accurately covered the life of people just as it would be strange to claim a that a history book is 'bad' for including true events, or that a documentary is 'bad' for accurately covering events. Some people write biographies that show unpleasant experiences in their own life, does that mean the biography is bad because it's reflects reality? I hope I have sufficiently explained the reason why the Bible should not be to blame for the evil that people did- that's not fault of the Bible for being true.

Why is their incest in Genesis? I think it is disgusting and it makes me worry about whether Christianity is bad.

That sounds like you are inventing things. The Bible tells us what happened.

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.

through Abimelech God showed mercy? Just a thought!

We develop in knowing the Voice of Our Holy Father. Discerning God's Will follows after accurately discerning His Voice. Alike Abraham's early beginnings, we establish the [FAITH] in God's Voice and TRUST His Promises by experiencing [intimate] challenges in His Presence. It was only in three chapters prior (Ch. 17) when Abram's name (destiny) was sealed as God's Chosen - Abr 'AH' am The Prophet!

L.D. what i think Abraham is saying is, Abraham and Sarah have the same father meaning God. Abraham sees Sarah as a daughter of God. although there are many times people done mistakes and wasn't part of Gods plan. So, they could still be half brother and sister.

I've read chapter 20 couple of times and there's a of verses that open my, there were a group at my place and we were talking about brother who would married their sisters. verse 12, Abraham said indeed she is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother. Am a little confuse on verse 12, Question, Can a man marry a girl that is his sister from his mother's side but not sister by?

Verse 6~Adultery is considered a sin against God. Jehovah God here warned Abimelech before he committed a grave sin.

"And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?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." Therefore one more great reason for us to be "More ready to hear, than to give the answer of fools." We are to be perfect toward all as our Father in heaven, and let God look on the hearts.