Genesis 20 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Genesis 20:1-7

1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, ‘You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.’

4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, ‘Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, “She is my sister,” and didn’t she also say, “He is my brother”? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.’

6 Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.’

A. Find Out:

1. Where did Abraham move to? v.1c
2. Who was king there? v.2
3. How did Abraham describe Sarah? v.2
4. Why did the Lord threaten the king? v.3
5. What did the king plead? v.4,5
6. Why hadn’t he actually touched Sarah? v.6
7. How did the Lord describe Abraham? v.7

B. Think:

1. What do we learn about Abraham here?
2. What sort of man was Abimelech ?
3. What more do we learn about the Lord?

C. Comment:

Here, amazingly, we have a repeat of that which happened when Abraham had gone down to Egypt years before (see Genesis 12:10-16). Then Abram had not known much about the Lord and we excused him, but now he has known the Lord for many years and still he doesn’t trust the Lord to protect him. It is easy to chide Abraham in our thinking but do we always rely fully on the Lord for our provision, and particularly for our protection? So, for a second time, Abraham pretends Sarah is his sister (v.2) and allows the local ruler to take her and, again, the Lord intervenes to protect Sarah (v.3-7). Abimelech shows himself to be righteous however, and so the Lord spares his life.

As we consider this great man of faith, Abraham, we must always keep in mind he was just an ordinary man who suffered the same fears and doubts that we do. Yes, he believed God and that picked him out as a man of faith, but that faith was often very limited. What is so wonderful is the Lord’s grace that understood him and loved him and didn’t chide him. Instead the Lord puts him into a place of responsibility where his prayers will save the king! We may not be perfect, but we can be available to the Lord for Him to use.

D. Application?

1. Thank God today for His grace and mercy that accepts us as we are.
2. You may not be perfect, but are you available? If you are, watch out!

Passage: Genesis 20:8-18

8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, ‘What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.’ 10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, ‘What was your reason for doing this?’

11 Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, “There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.” 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s household, I said to her, “This is how you can show your love to me: everywhere we go, say of me, ‘He is my brother.’”’

14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelek said, ‘My land is before you; live wherever you like.’

16 To Sarah he said, ‘I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offence against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.’

17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, 18 for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

A. Find Out:    

1. How did Abimelech’s officials feel when he told them what God had said? v.8
2. What 3 excuses did Abraham make? v.11,12
3. How did Abimelech respond? (4 things) v.14-16
4. What had Abraham to do for Abimelech? v.17
5. What had God done because of Sarah? v.17,18

B. Think:

1. What sort of man is Abimelech shown to be?
2. How does Abraham show up in this passage?
3. What power is God shown to have?

C. Comment:

God, we saw in the previous study, had spoken to Abimelech in a dream. This king now wastes no time in acting on it and early next morning tells his officials what has happened (v.8). They respond in fear and so Abimelech calls in Abraham (v.9). When he is questioned, Abraham shares that he thought there was no fear of God in the land and that he had feared he would be killed (v.11). He also explains that Sarah actually was his step-sister so he wasn’t lying (v.12).

Yes, they may all be true but that doesn’t really excuse his failure to trust in the Lord, and his resorting to half truths! Abimelech then shows what sort of man he is. He first of all, heaps blessings on Abraham (v.14), then gives him access to his whole country (v.15), and finally pays damages to Abraham for any insult Sarah may have received by what had happened (v.16). What a man! What an example of restitution, even when he had been acting in good faith!

It is interesting that in this passage is the first reference in the Bible to anyone praying for another and we should note that it was at God’s instigation. Because of this, when Abraham prays, God moves. We should note that real prayer springs out of the heart of God and opens a channel for the Lord to move.

D. Application?

1. If we wrong others, do we have Abimelech’s concern for restitution?
2. Are we open daily, to hear the Lord’s prompting to pray so that we may become a channel of His blessing?