Genesis 20:3 - Meaning and Application

God revealed himself in dreams, and these dreams showed themselves to be truly from him. He did this not only with his prophets, but even with people outside the church and covenant. Usually, though, he did it for the sake of his own people. That was true in Pharaoh’s dream, which led to Joseph’s good, in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, which led to Daniel’s honor, and here in Abimelech’s dream, which protected Abraham and Sarah. God corrected this king for their sake (Psalm 105:14-15).

God first warned Abimelech of his danger, both the danger of sin and the danger of death. He told him that the woman was another man’s wife, so taking her would wrong her husband. He also told him, “You are a dead man,” because God’s word of judgment makes a matter certain. Every willful sinner should be told plainly that he is like a condemned man, or like a patient with a fatal disease. If you are living in evil, then you are indeed under the sentence of death.

Abimelech answered by pleading ignorance. Abraham and Sarah had let him think they were only brother and sister, and he had not known the truth. See how much confidence a person can have before God when his heart does not condemn him (1 John 3:21). If our conscience can honestly say that we have not knowingly sinned against God, even if others have deceived us, that will be a comfort in hard times. Abimelech also spoke to God as Abraham had once spoken, asking, “Will you destroy an innocent nation?” (Genesis 18:23; Genesis 20:4). He did not mean a nation like Sodom, which truly deserved judgment, but one that was innocent in this matter.

God then gave a full answer to Abimelech’s words. First, he accepted the plea and admitted that Abimelech had acted with an honest heart: “I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart” (Genesis 20:6). It is a comfort to honest people that God knows their honesty, even if others do not believe them or refuse to admit it.

God also told Abimelech that he had been kept from sin by God’s own hand: “I kept you from sinning against me.” Abimelech was restrained from doing wrong, Abraham from suffering wrong, and Sarah from both. Much sin is planned and desired, but never carried out. The world is bad, but it is not as bad as evil men and the devil would make it. It is God who holds people back from doing the evil they would do. Sin does not come from him, but much sin is kept from growing worse by his power, either by checking a person’s mind and desires or by closing the door to the sin. It is a great mercy when God keeps someone from sinning, and he should get the glory for it, whoever the human means may be (1 Samuel 25:32-33).

Then God commanded Abimelech to make things right. Now that he knew the truth, he must return the man his wife (Genesis 20:7). Ignorance only excuses us while it lasts. If we began a wrong path in ignorance, that does not excuse us if we knowingly keep going in it (Leviticus 5:3-5). God gives three reasons why Abimelech must deal justly and kindly with Abraham. First, Abraham is a prophet, someone close to God and precious to him, so God takes special care over him. God strongly resents wrongs done to his prophets, as if they were done to himself. Second, because Abraham is a prophet, he will pray for Abimelech. This is part of a prophet’s reward, and it is a great one. It shows the power of a good man’s prayers, and it reminds believers to help others with prayer when they are in need. Abraham had been involved in Abimelech’s trouble, so justice required him to pray for him. Third, if Abimelech refused to restore Sarah, he would do so at his own peril. “Know that you shall surely die.” Whoever does wrong, whether ruler or common man, will certainly face the penalty for it unless he repents and makes restitution (Colossians 3:25). No injustice becomes acceptable to God, not even when it carries Caesar’s image.