GENESIS LESSON 30


     We will begin this lesson in Genesis 20:1 "And Abraham journeyed
from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and
Shur, and sojourned in Gerar."
     Genesis 20:2 "And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She [is] my
sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah."

     As terrible as this story is, this was the second time Abraham had
told a ruler that Sarah was his sister. Abraham left out the very
important statement that Sarah was his wife. The last time the
deception was to Pharaoh of Egypt. This time it happened to Abimelech,
King of Gerar, in the land we know as the Holy Land.

     Genesis 20:3 "But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and
said to him, Behold, thou [art but] a dead man, for the woman which
thou hast taken; for she [is] a man's wife."

     God warned Abimelech, before he committed a sin that was worthy of
death. Adultery was a terrible sin, and in God's sight, it still is.
Abimelech had been deceived, he had not been aware that she was
married. God kept him from sinning, until He could warn him.

     Genesis 20:4 "But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said,
Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?"

     God is just. He would not destroy a people who were innocent. It
is amazing to me, at her age, that she was still desirable to men.
When God restored her reproductive ability, He restored her youth ,as
well.

     Genesis 20:5 "Said he not unto me, She [is] my sister? and she,
even she herself said, He [is] my brother: in the integrity of my
heart and innocency of my hands have I done this."

     Abimelech had been deceived by Abraham and Sarah. He was saying I
am innocent, and that was a true statement.

     Genesis 20:6 "And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that
thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld
thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch
her."

     God kept Abimelech from sinning. God realized that it was not
Abimelech's fault. He did not know she was married.

     Genesis 20:7 "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."

     God was giving Abimelech a chance to make this right, because of
his innocence. The same way He gives us a chance to repent, and we
must, before His anger is kindled and punishment begins. You see, here,
that it is not wrong for some ministers to pray for you. He told him
to let the prophet pray for him, also. Notice, that if Abimelech
continued in the sin and did not heed the warning, he would die.

     Genesis 20:8 "Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and
called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and
the men were sore afraid."

     Abimelech shared with his servants the terrible thing that almost
happened, and the warnings, and they rightly feared God.

     Genesis 20:9 "Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him,
What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou
hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds
unto me that ought not to be done."
     Genesis 20:10 "And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou,
that thou hast done this thing?"

     It is about time that someone placed the blame where it belonged.
at Abraham's feet. Abraham could have caused this King and his people
great problems. He demanded Abraham to tell him why he did this.

     Genesis 20:11 "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."

     This was just a very limp excuse. Abraham, first of all, had no
right to judge them. Judgement belongs to God.

     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."

     He was trying to say he did not lie. Well, maybe he didn't
technically, but he did bring a deception to Abimelech. She actually
was his half-sister and his wife.

     Genesis 20:13 "And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander
from my father's house, that I said unto her, This [is] thy kindness
which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come,
say of me, He [is] my brother."

     Abraham's wife, Sarah, was very beautiful, and he was afraid that
someone would want her badly enough to kill him. Abraham made up this
little scheme to save his life, and Sarah obeyed her husband.

     Genesis 20:14 "And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and
menservants, and womenservants, and gave [them] unto Abraham, and
restored him Sarah his wife."

     Abimelech was doing everything within his power to make this
thing right. He did not want the wrath of God to be upon him.

     Genesis 20:15 "And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before
thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee."

     He not only gave Abraham gifts, but offered him land to dwell on.
I am sure that he thought God would bless Abraham; and in the
overflow. he would be blessed, also.

     Genesis 20:16 "And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy
brother a thousand [pieces] of silver: behold, he [is] to thee a
covering of the eyes, unto all that [are] with thee, and with all
[other]: thus she was reproved."

     "Silver" means redemption. I am sure that had to do with this gift
of silver given. This was the custom of countries in the east to cover
their wives heads with veils. This sin was her husbands, more than
hers.

     Genesis 20:17  "So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed
Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare
[children]."
     Genesis 20:18 "For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of
the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife."

     God left nothing to chance. He had stricken all the women barren
who were in Abimelech's house. When Abraham (the man of God) prayed
for Abimelech, God healed every one. The women were able to conceive
again. In this area of the country, it was a curse when you could not
have children.

     For the next lesson ,read chapter 21 of Genesis.
























                             Questions 30


1.  Where did Abraham sojourn?
2.  What was the name of the king who took Sarah?
3.  What had Abraham told that made it seem alright for the king to
    have Sarah?
4.  Who was the ruler Abraham told this to the first time?
5.  What present day country did this king live in?
6.  How did God contact Abimelech?
7.  What message did God bring?
8.  What was the sin God was warning about?
9.  What was Abimelech's statement to God?
10. When God made it possible for Sarah to bear children in her old
    age, what else did He restore to her?
11. What would happen to Abimelech, if he did not heed the warning?
12. Who did Abimelech confess to?
13. Who was really to blame in all of this?
14. What excuse did Abraham give Abimelech?
15. Who is Judge of all?
16. What relation, besides wife, was Sarah to Abraham?
17. What had Abraham asked Sarah to say wherever they went?
18. Why did Abraham do this?
19. What four gifts did Abimelech give Abraham, when he restored Sarah?
20. What was Abraham to Sarah?
21. What happened, when Abraham prayed for Abimelech?
22. What had God done to insure Sarah not conceiving?