What stories and lessons can we learn from Abraham’s life and journey? He was called away from his home, and told to travel to the promised land. Along the way, Abraham made many mistakes. When we follow these stories we can see Abraham’s faith in God grow. One detail to look for is Abraham’s prayer life, which is part of his relationship with God. We see this and other important details illustrated in Genesis 20.
Genesis 20:1-18 Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, (2) Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace. (3) But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” (4) But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? (5) Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.” (6) In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. (7) Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.” (8) Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. (9) Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! (10) Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” (11) Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ (12) And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her. (13) When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.'” (14) Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. (15) Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” (16) And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.” (17) Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. (18) For the LORD had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.
The first thing we notice in this story is the fact the terms, she is my sister, he is my brother, repeated five times. This shows the main theme of the acted parable. Why did Abraham lie to Abimelech? When confronting Abraham, Abimelech was very upset. He asked Abraham, . “What have you done to us? Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” And told him, “No one should ever do what you have done!” Why did Abimelech respond in such a manner? “God came to Abimelech in a dream. In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her.” Why did God go to Abimelech in a dream and not Abraham, who God called His prophet? What was Abraham’s answer? Abraham replied, “I thought.” Notice one missing detail. Abraham did not pray. He did not put his trust in God. So God went to Abimelech with His message.
Did God abandon Abraham? God noticed Abraham rearranged the sequence, so God went along with him. Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. ““Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver.” After Abraham received his reward, one he did not deserve; “Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech.”
God knew Abraham would learn a lesson. Just to make sure, God also placed a series of lessons in Abraham’s life to teach him to depend on Him and trust in Him for everything. It was a learning process for Abraham. A long process with many mistakes, but a process God carried him through.
Samuel's School of the Prophets 