Please turn with me to Genesis - chapter 20.

We’re going to skip chapters 18 and 19.  In part because chapters 18 and 19 focus on Lot and God judging Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins - one of which was homosexuality.  Our focus is on Abraham and the lessons of faith he learned as he lived life with God.  So, we’re going to skip down to chapter 20 and go on with Abraham.

What we’re going to see - here in chapter 20 - is a time when Abraham really messed up - made a huge mistake in not trusting God.  Ever make a mistake?  Where you look back and ask yourself, “What was I thinking?”  Ever been there?

Look at some of these.  “Say, what’s a mountain goat doing way up here in a cloud bank?”

“Shh.  Zog!...  Here comes one now!”  Who’s capturing who?

This one’s a little more obscure.  Look in the side view mirror and think about the direction the other cars are going on the freeway.  Opps.

Some people would say this was a mistake.

One last opps.   Remember these?  The Model T.  The VW Bug.  And the Yugo.  One of the great cars of history.

Chapter 20 and Abraham’s mistake.  Boldly going where all of us have been before.

Genesis 20 - starting at verse 1:  Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar.

If you look at the map you’ll see what’s being described here.  Abraham was up by the Oaks of Mamre.  A place where he had been dwelling with God - worshipping God - speaking with God - was being blessed by God.

Abraham decides to leave that place of blessing and journey down towards the Negev - settles in an area between Kadesh and Shur.  Could have been that Abraham - dwelling in tents - being a nomad who owned a lot of flocks - may have moved south looking for better grazing land. 

Was God telling Abraham to move or did Abraham make that decision for himself?  We don’t know.  But it is interesting that there’s no mention of God telling Abraham to move.

For whatever reason Abraham leaves this place of dwelling with God - the Oaks of Mamre - heads south - then after a period of time heads back up to Gerar.  A place that looks like this today.

Verse 2:  Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.”  So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

Let’s Pause there.  Verse two is Abraham’s mistake.  Let’s say that together, “Abraham’s mistake.” 

In reality - and we’ll come to this in verse 12 - Sarah was Abraham’s half-sister.  Terah’s first wife - Abraham’s mother - had died.  Terah - Abraham’s father - had remarried and had Sarah - Abraham’s 1/2 sister - by his second wife.  So Abram isn’t exactly lying.  But, he isn’t exactly telling the truth either.  He’s straining the truth - just a little bit.  Its all a matter of perspective.

It seems like such a simple statement:  “She’s my sister.”  But, as we’re going to see the implications are huge.  This is a very big mistake.  The result of that deception is that Abimelech - king of Gerar - takes Sarah - to be his wife.

Back in Genesis 12 - in what seems like a very similar situation - Abraham - trusting himself and not God - Abraham heading south to Egypt - lies about Sarah - calling her his sister not his wife - in Egypt Pharaoh thought Sarah was a great beauty and took Sarah to be his wife. 

But that was about 20 years ago.  Here in chapter 20, nothing is said about Sarah’s physical beauty.  Sarah is pushing 90. 

Let’s be careful.  We’re not saying anything against senior citizens.  I’m working on becoming one myself.  But, we have to ask - why would a king - who has the pick of all the young gorgeous babes in the kingdom - why would he choose an 89 year old - beyond the age of having children - senior citizen for his harem?

Probably - Abimelech chooses Sarah because - first off - she’s part of a really really wealthy family.  And second - because Abe and his clan are the new tribe in town.  So this is a marriage of political and financial alliance.  An opportunity to share wealth and strategic advantage with the new neighbors.

Grab this:  Abraham is wheeling and dealing with his wife in order to better position himself with Abimelech.  As a result - Sarah ends up in Abimelech’s harem.

Verse 3:  But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man - you’re toast - 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 - Abraham - not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’?  And she - Sarah - herself said, ‘He is my brother.’  In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”

Verse 6:  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 - because of your innocence - I did not let you touch her.  Now therefore - because I kept you from touching her - 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.”

Verses 3 to 7 are God’s warning.  Try that together, “God’s warning.”

Notice 2 things.  First:  Abimelech’s integrity.

In verse 4 - Abimelech says, “Are you going to wipe out our whole nation even though we’re blameless?”  The word in Hebrew for “blameless” is the word “righteous” - justified before God.  “There ain’t no sin here.”

In verse 5 he lays the blame squarely on Abraham.  “He lied.  I had no idea she was his wife.”  The word “integrity” has the idea of having a pure conscience - no hidden motives - no impurity - no adultery - no evil plotting going on.

Abimelech says he’s “innocent” - “the innocence of my hands.”  Meaning freedom from any punishable guilt.

The Hebrew word is “Nik-kaw-yone” - same word used of cleaning one’s teeth.

Ever send your child off to brush their teeth?  They come back claiming they have.  But, you know - because of the stuff stuck between their teeth - the smell of their breath - that they’re literally lying through their teeth.  Guilt waiting to be punished.  Not true of Abimelech.

When God confronts Abimelech with the reality that Sarah is Abraham’s wife - Abimelech flat out tells God, “I’m innocent.  There’s nothing here that you can punish me for.”  How many of us could say that?  That response takes either stupidity, lunacy, or guts coming from an pure heart.  ‘Cause God knows the heart.

Grab this:  Abimelech says “I’m innocent.”  And God agrees.  Abimelech is one righteous king - living in integrity before God.  Abimelech is a God fearing man trying to live in obedience - in righteousness - before God.

Second - notice God’s grace.

God doesn’t wipe out Abimelech.  “You sinned.”  POOF!  No more Abimelech.  God prevented Abimelech from sinning - prevented him from “coming near” to Sarah. 

Later on - down in verse 17 - we read that Abimelech - his wife - his maids - they all had some kind of problem they needed to be healed from.  There are two probable explanations:  One - impotence - which would explain Abimelech’s problem - and the rest of the men.  And, two - miscarriages - which would explain the bareness of the women. 

We’re in the time frame when - according to God’s promise to Abraham back in chapter 17 - Sarah needs to be pregnant with Isaac.  If Abimelech had had sexual relations with Sarah we would never have been certain who Isaac’s father really was.  God’s fulfillment of His promise to Abraham becomes questionable.  The very lineage of the Messiah comes into question.

God prevents all that.  Abimelech never lays a  hand on Sarah.

Then God comes to Abimelech to speak personally with him.  God warns Abimelech.  God tells Abimelech how to get out of the situation.  “Restore her to her husband.” 

Point being:  God preventing Abimelech from sinning and warning Abimlech about something he had no clue he was involved with - all of that is God’s grace in the midst of a horrendous situation - a situation brought about by Abraham’s mistake.

Going on - verse 8:  So Abimelech arose early in the morning - when?  early in the morning and called all his servants - who?  All his servants - and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were greatly frightened.  Why frightened?  One wrong move and we are history.

Verse 9:  Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us?  And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?  You have done to me things that ought not to be done.”  And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered, that you have done this thing?”

Verses 8 to 10 are Abimelech’s response to God’s warning.  Try that together.  “Abimelech’s response.”

Notice 2 things.  First: Abimelech’s response is immediate. 

First thing in the morning.  Gets all the servants together.  Tells them what’s going on.  What we’re going through is a God thing.  This is what God wants done.  Gets everyone on the same page - the same plan of action.

Then Abimelech summons Abraham and chews out his hide.  What have you done?  What did we ever do to you to deserve this?  Look at how we’re suffering -this disaster is because of you.  Even God is ticked at us.  You’ve done things to me - my servants - my kingdom - that no one should ever do to anyone else.

Grab this:  Abraham - the great man of faith - the patriarch - the recipient of God’s promises - the one through whom God is to bless nations - is leveled by this king from Gerar - who is more obedient - at this point more faithful - to God than Abraham.

Second - notice Abimelech’s question - verse 10:  “What made you do this?  What could you have possibly been thinking?”  Ever asked yourself that question?

Can you hear the crickets chirping?  A little rustle of a breeze stirring up the dust?  Standing there - in front of Abimelech the king - in front of this crowd of the king’s servants - the men who are impotent - the women are miscarrying - all of them aware of what Abraham did to his wife - knowing that - because of Abraham - the wrath of God hangs over them - people who are not too pleased with Abraham at the moment.

Abraham stands in front of this crowd and is suppose to give a justifiable reason.  It is a tough - embarrassing - called on the carpet - moment of truth.

Ever been there?  In that moment when we’re brought face to face with our sin?

Going on - verse 11 - verses 11 to 13 are Abraham’s answer.  Let’s try that.  “Abraham’s answer.” 

Verse 11:  Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 

Abraham - you’ve just been chewed out by the king you thought had no fear of God - because Abimelech and his people have a great respect for God - a great fear of God.  Even if they didn’t - God is still God - even in places where they don’t fear Him.  God is still sovereign.  Abraham where was your trust in God?

Going on - Besides, she - Sarah - actually is my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife;

A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie - no matter how much rationalizing we do.  Abe’s tried to deceive these people.  No technicality is going to get him off.  

Verse 13:  and it came about when God - who?  When God caused me to wander from my father’s house,

Remember back in Genesis 3?  After Eve and Adam eat the forbidden fruit.  They’re hiding in the bushes - because now they know that they’re naked.  God asks Adam, “Who told you that you were naked?”

Adam’s response?  “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”  “If You hadn’t given me that woman this never would have happened!”  So much for God blessing Adam with the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh helpmeet.  (Genesis 2:23; 3:1-12) 

“God - if You hadn’t called me out of Ur and led me down here to Canaan - if You hadn’t rescued me from Egypt and dwelt with me at Mamre - if You hadn’t helped me to rescue Lot and royally blessed me and offered so much to me and been so gracious and faithful to me - if You hadn’t totally royally blessed my sandals off - none of this would have ever happened!”

Do we ever do that?  Blame God for the wrong choices we make?  The only reason there’s evil in the world is because of God.  All these horrible things that keep happening to me are because of God.  “I had to lie to you because God blessed me.”  Does that sound a little weak? 

When we step out from under God’s blessing - when we’re going it alone - it becomes so easy to blame everyone else for our problems - even God.  So easy to rationalize away our own guilt and responsibility.  So easy to rationalize sin.   

Going on - verse 13 - and it came about when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her - Sarah - “This is the kindness which you will show to me:  everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

As nomads - wandering from place to place - Abraham and Sarah are going to encounter all kinds of new circumstances - new customs - new people - some of them very hostile.  Having an eligible for marriage woman along would have made Abraham welcome - at the least he had a bargaining chip. 

Probably - maybe as far back as Ur - then as Abraham and Sarah headed south to Canaan - probably they worked out an arrangement where they would lie about Sarah’s marital relationship with Abraham.  A strategy - the ultimate end of which was to preserve Abraham’s neck.

Same strategy they used on Pharaoh in Egypt - trusting themselves and not God - lied to Pharaoh in Egypt with disastrous results.  And, even after all that Abraham had learned about trusting God - same strategy - trusting themselves and not God - same strategy they used on Abimelech - who took Sarah because of her wealth and the potential alliance with Abraham.

Bottom line:  Abraham - what was the reason you did this to us?  Answer:  Because - once again - I was trusting myself and not God.  “I’m willing to lie and deceive people - to cause harm to others - to put my wife and God’s plan in jeopardy - in order to defend myself.”

Going on - verses 14 to 16 focus on Abimelech’s generosity.  Try that together.  “Abimelech’s generosity.” 

Verse 14:  Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”  To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother - that cuts.  Doesn’t it?  Just a tad sarcastic.

Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared.”

The sinfulness of Abraham - the man through whom God’s blessing was to come to the nations - the sinfulness of Abraham is outdone by the generosity of Abimelech. 

Abe is giving sheep and oxen and servants - oh my.  He’s given the pick of the land - whatever land he chooses is his.  He’s given a thousand pieces of silver was to let everyone know that Sarah hadn’t been touched.  Abraham is her only husband.  Isaac is Abraham’s son.  Something we need to know even today.

Bottom line:  God uses Abimelech to bless Abraham.

Verse 17:  Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children.  For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

Everything we’ve seen comes back to Abram.  He’s God’s man even when he royally messes up.  He’s the patriarch who needs to learn from this huge painful mistake.  To humble himself again before God.

What we see here in verses 17 and 18 is God’s restoration of Abraham.  Try that together.  “God’s restoration.” 

God’s forgiveness.  God’s grace.  God again using Abraham according to His purposes.  Abraham still regarded as a prophet.  Abraham still someone who walks and talks with God.  Abraham to whom God’s promises have been given.

That should be an encouragement to us.  God isn’t focused on our failures.  He’s focused on our restoration - on moving us forward in our relationship with Him.

Hold on to that.  God isn’t focused on our failures.  God is focused on moving us forward in our relationship with Him.

Think with me about how you would answer the question given to Abraham:  “How could you do such a thing?”  Abraham learning so much about God and then ending up sinning in the same way he did 20 plus years earlier.

We can learn so much about God - how incredibly faithful He is - see His hand of healing and restoration and blessing and provision - His mercy and grace and love - poured out into our lives.  And then we fall back into the same patterns of sin - expose ourselves to the same trash - use the same foul language - treat our spouses horribly - our children with cruelty - ego and pride rule our actions and attitudes.  Add your favorite failure. 

It’s a cycle of sin we head into.  Familiar circumstances - attitudes and actions leading to failure.  Then a crying out for forgiveness and healing and restoration.  Abraham heading south to Egypt - lying about Sarah - being restored by God’s grace - heading south to the Negev - lying about Sarah - being restored by God’s grace.  How could we do such a thing?  Easy.  

Years ago I read story about some scientists who decided to genetically engineer a fish that could live outside water.  They selected some healthy red herring.  They bred and crossbred - and did all the genetic manipulations needed - until they produced a fish that could exist outside of water.

But, the project director wasn’t satisfied.  He suspected that though the fish had learned to live on dry land, it still had a secret desire for water.

“Re-educate it,” he said.  “Change its very desires.”

So again they went to work - this time retraining even the strongest reflexes.  The result was a fish that would rather die than get wet.  Even humidity filled this new fish with dread.

The director - proud of his triumph - took the fish on tour.  During that tour - accidentally - the fish fell into a lake.  It sank to the bottom - eyes and gills clamped shut - afraid to move - lest it become wetter.  Of course it dared not breathe - every instinct said no.  And yet, it had to breathe.

The fish drew a tentative gill-full.  Its eyes bulged.  It breathed again and flicked a fin.  It breathed a third time and wriggled with delight.  Then it darted away.  The fish had discovered water.  You can take a fish out of water but you can’t take the water out of the fish.

How can we do this to ourselves over and over again?  Answer:  Because we’re still human beings - living in a fallen world - well adapted to sin.  You can take the sinner out of the pattern of sin but how do we take the pattern of sin out of the sinner?  How can we be set free?

There was driver of a wagon - being pulled by a burro - slowly making his way into town for the market.  As he traveled he overtook an old man carrying a huge bundle - a heavy load.  Taking compassion on him -  the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon.  Gratefully the old man accepted and climbed into the back of the wagon.

After a few minutes the driver turned to see how the man was doing.  To his surprise - he found him still straining under the heavy weight - because the old man hadn’t taken the burden off his shoulders.

When we’re trying to live the Christian life on our own power - its like picking up that burden.  A burden that recognizes old patterns of sin and fits right in - starts breathing water just like it never left.  That burden is all of who we are focused on trusting ourselves.  A huge burden we carry around as we try to make ourselves behave and look good.  Doing the Christian life.  A burden filled with failure.

Paul writes - in Romans 7 - writing about his own struggles with ongoing sin - Paul asks in Romans 7:24.  “Wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?”  Who will lift this burden?  So many Christians are there - carrying this burden - asking the question.

Paul goes on - the answer is Romans 7:25:  “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

When Jesus enters our lives He doesn’t try to some how clean up the human part of us - living in a sinful world - adapted to sin.  Clean up what’s in the bundle we’re straining under.  All that self trusting stuff that’s weighing us down.

Jesus wants to lift all that off of us - to set us free - to free us ride up front of the cart with Him.  Wherever we are in the cycle - lay it down and trust Jesus.

Each time we sin - or we find ourselves going down the same path leading to old sins - heading south to the Negev - we have an opportunity to throw ourselves - in utter dependence - at the feet of Jesus.  To let go of the bundle of ourselves and to trust Jesus.  For Him to correct us - to heal us - empower us to move us forward in our relationship with Him.

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Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright© 1960,1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.