Leslie M. John
We see in the following exposition that Abram, whose name God changed as “Abraham” feared and attempted to escape from trouble. Before we go into meditating on this thought let us recollect a verse from New Testament.
2 Timothy 3:16 reads…
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..."
Now, here is the message from Genesis Chapter 20
After living for twenty years in Mamre Abram sojourned to Gerar. Abram was also
called sojourner. He moved from one place to another. We are also sojourners on
this earth looking forward to reaching heaven, which is our final destination.
When Abram moved from Mamre to Gerar, he was afraid for some time and tried to
lie. That appears to us as unbecoming of his stature as the father of faith. It
also renders him the character of cowardice. At a time when Sarai, whose name
God changed later as “Sarah”, was with a child, a promised seed in her womb, he
asked her to say that she was his sister. He was worried more about his own life
than living up to the truth.
Abram’s own words say: “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. (Genesis 20:12)”
Yet, since he married her she was his wife. In his attempt to escape from trouble he said to her that she may tell Abimelech that she was his sister. Because of the fear Abram had Abimelech, the king of Gerar excels in character. The one who was about to commit sin is restored. Abimelech sent for Sarai, and took her to his house with a sinful desire to the take her to his bed. Note that usually one sin paves the way for another. It is indeed disastrous, especially when the sin of God’s child paves the way for ungodly to commit sin. Let us, as the children of God, examine ourselves, if our ways are leading others to commit sins.
Because God made covenant with Abram He intervened and prevented the ugliest situation to come up. Psalmist asserts in Psalm 105:13-15 “When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; saying, touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
“And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of
Sarai Abram's wife” (Genesis 12:17)
God appeared to Abimelech, King of Gerar, in a dream and gave him warning that
he was going to commit sin. God revealed to Abhimelech that Sarai was Abram’s
wife. He also gets warning that if he forces her into illegal relationship he
will face death. Abimelech pleads innocent before God and implores for mercy. He
prays that he and his nation may not be punished. God grants Abimelech his
petition and imputes him no sin.
One aspect that needs to be noted here is that a great deal of sin was devised
but it was not executed. More often than not, God restrains people to commit
sin.
No temptation is beyond the control of men, and in fact in every situation God
provides a way out. It is by our willful act that we fall in to sin, or lead
others into sin. In situations where we choose to fall willfully into sin
against the will of God we are responsible and accountable. Let us be careful.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will
with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”
(1 Corinthians 10:13)