The “father of all nations” is at it again. This Bible study tells how Abraham tricks Abimelech with Sarah to save himself. Genesis 20:1-18 begins today’s Bible study. In this passage, we find Abraham, a man known for his faith.But, we see him resorting to deception.
Abraham, fearing for his safety, misleads Abimelech, the king of Gerar, regarding Sarah, his wife, claiming she is his sister. But as we study the narrative, we’ll uncover insights about trust, integrity, and the ways in which even the most faithful individuals can falter in moments of fear. So, let’s take in this account and explore the life lessons that speak to us. And maybe, we’ll understand more about the faithfulness of God.
Abraham Tricks Abimelech with Sarah – A Sin to Save Himself
Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.”
Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless?
Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.
But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” – Genesis 20:2-7 NASB
Breaking the bad habit of sin
The story of Abimelech, Sarah and Abraham teaches us that sin can become a nasty habit along with consequences for us, our families and others. Abimelech’s story teaches us that sin can have far-reaching consequences, even if we don’t intend them. It also teaches us that the consequences of sin can be devastating and long-lasting, and that it is important to break these habits before they lead to more serious outcomes.
This is the second time Abraham has lied about his wife – let’s see what happens.
Abraham Lies to Abimelech – Is This a Pattern?
Remember when this same situation occurred before? ( See Genesis 12:10-20 ) Abraham still hasn’t learned anything from his past sins and repeats them with Abimelech.
It seems that Abraham established a pattern of lying whenever trouble came his way.
.. And, Abraham is a faithful servant of God!
What about our sinful habits?
If Abraham, one of the most respected and well-known people in the Bible, cannot shake his habit of sinning how difficult is it for us?
We all have times of weakness when it comes to spirituality. I don’t know what yours are and I certainly don’t care to share all of mine today.
The point is that sin tempts and pursues us in our most vulnerable place. During these times, it is important to remember to stay strong and rely on God’s strength and guidance.
We are Creatures of Habit
Even if a person has been a Christian for years, or maybe even most of a lifetime, he or she has habits that sometimes seem unbeatable. For instance, a person may have the habit of sleeping in on Sundays, even though they know they should be attending church. Another example is a person who gossips, even if they know it’s wrong.
How do habits come about?
Let’s take cigarette smoking for instance. When you start the habit of smoking and light up that first cigarette, your body rejects it. You cough and gag, don’t you? Many people even become nauseous.
Wouldn’t you say that is a sign that smoking is bad for you?
But, with time, the body is forced to accept smoke and the lungs get used to it.
Before you know you have the habit, the habit has you! Before you know it, smoking has become part of your life, and the habit is near impossible to break! I know, because I’ve been there. Thankfully I gave it up (with the Lord’s help and store-size LifesaversTM.
The Habit of Sinning
Sin is similar to the cigarette smoking story above. As Christians, before we commit the sin, the Holy Spirit steps in and tells us we shouldn’t do it. However, despite the Holy Spirit’s warning, we choose to ignore Him and do it anyway. This is called “free-will”.
So, we have two choices;
- We can listen to the Spirit within us and back away from the sin
- We can go forward with it to regret and beg forgiveness later.
Future Effects of Sin
Yes, we can be forgiven but what about the consequences?
Some sins only seem to affect us. And some affect our families along with other people (Remember Lot’s daughters?). The first choice seems to be the better one, don’t you agree?
The next time that habitual sin creeps into your thoughts and you feel the Spirit warning you, see if you can listen and make the right choice. I’ll do the same.
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you want to know more about receiving the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment and read this verse to learn how.