Genesis 20:8 - Meaning and Application

Abimelech, warned by God in a dream, took the warning seriously. Like a man who truly feared sin and its consequences, he got up early and obeyed the instructions he had received.

He first gave a warning to his servants. Abraham himself could not have been more careful to command his household in this matter. Those whom God has convicted of sin and danger should tell others what God has done for their souls, so that others may also wake up and learn holy fear.

Then Abimelech rebuked Abraham. His words were strong, but they were also gentle. He did not insult Abraham or mock him. He plainly described the wrong Abraham had done and calmly showed his displeasure.

Abimelech called this a great sin, one he had nearly fallen into. Even natural conscience teaches that adultery is a very serious sin, and many who call themselves Christians make too little of it. He also saw that if he had done this sin in ignorance, he and his whole kingdom would still have been exposed to God’s anger. The sins of rulers often become the troubles of their people, so rulers should fear sin for the good of those they lead.

He also charged Abraham with doing what was not right by denying his marriage. Abimelech spoke firmly, but not harshly. He did not call Abraham a liar or a cheat. He said only that Abraham had done things that should not have been done. Equivocation, which is speaking in a misleading way, and dissimulation, which is hiding the truth to deceive, are both very bad and should never be accepted.

Abimelech felt deeply wronged because Abraham had exposed him and his family to sin. He said, in effect, “What have I done against you? Even if I had been your enemy, you could not have treated me worse.” We should count it a great evil when anyone tempts us toward sin or puts us in danger of it, even if they claim to be our friend.

He also asked Abraham why he had assumed such a bad thing about them. “What did you see,” he asked, “that made you do this?” Abraham had no good reason to think he would be in danger if people knew Sarah was his wife. A suspicion against someone’s goodness is a greater insult than a slight against their honor or power.

Abraham then offered a weak excuse. First, he pleaded that he had a poor opinion of the place. He had thought to himself, though without good reason, that there was no fear of God there, and that they would kill him. Little good is to be expected where the fear of God is absent (Psalm 36:1). Yet there are many places and people who have more fear of God than we suppose. They may not belong to our group or wear our labels, and yet they may still truly fear God. To judge them otherwise is unfair to Christ and to Christians, and it brings us under God’s warning against judging others (Matthew 7:1).

Uncharitable judgment causes many other sins. When people decide ahead of time that others do not fear God, they feel free to treat them badly. People would not do wrong so easily if they did not first think wrongly.

Abraham also tried to clear himself from the charge of a plain lie by saying that Sarah really was his sister, in a certain sense, because she was related to him. Some think she was Lot’s sister, since Lot is called Abraham’s brother, though he was actually his nephew (Genesis 14:16). But those to whom Abraham said, “She is my sister,” understood him to mean that she was not his wife, so the statement was meant to deceive.

Finally, Abraham tried to show that he had not meant to insult Abimelech. He said this had long been their custom, agreed on when they first began traveling as strangers (Genesis 20:13). “When God made me leave my father’s house,” he said, “we settled this matter.” We should acknowledge God in all our journeys. And those who travel among strangers need wisdom, but that wisdom must always be joined with innocence.

It may be suggested that God withheld good from Abraham and Sarah because of this sinful agreement. If they would not openly own their marriage, why should God honor it? Still, after Abimelech’s rebuke, we may suppose they agreed never to do that again. After that, we read at once that Sarah conceived (Genesis 21:1, 2).