Life of Abraham – Bellevue Church of Christ Lesson X – Shame in Gerar* Auditorium Class – Winter / Spring 2013-2014 (Genesis 20:1-18) Place of This Deceit A. Resorting to Deceit There à Gen 19:27 “And Abraham went…to the (1-2) place where he had stood before the Lord.” “Sojourned in Gerar” 1 Gerar -> At the southern Practice of This Deceit From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; border of Palestine “She is my sister” (2) and he sojourned in Gerar. <- Gen 10:19 Gen 13:18 - First move since he came to Hebron Half-Truth = Deception Compare this story to Gen 12:11-20; 26:1-16 (12) 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my Negeb -> Either “South” or the land South of Judah Compare to Gen 12:11-13 sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. à B. Reprimanding of Abimelech Gen 21:22–34; 26:1-16 Peril of This Deceit (Deceived by Isaac); 26:26–33 Evil (3-13) -Imperiled the princess 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night “Abimelech…took Sarah” Reprimanding of Abimelech and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she Why was Abimelech -Elucidation (3) is a man’s wife.” attracted to an 89-year- The Word of God was the old woman? (Gen 12:11,14) difference between life 4 -Imperiled the promises and death to Abimelech Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he (3,7,17,18) said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? God had just promised that within a year Sarah would -Explanation (4,5) bear Isaac. (Gen 17:15-16; 5 Abimelech defends himself Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? 18:9-10) “had not approached her” And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the Imperiled the Philistines integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands -Exoneration (6) “For the Lord had closed I have done this.” all the wombs of the house “Yes, I know…” of Abimelech” (18) 6 God knows the heart of man Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know Eastern kings have for (1 Sa 16:7) that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, ages claimed the privilege of taking to -Education (6) and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. their harem an unmarried Therefore I did not let you touch her. “I…kept you from sinning woman whom they like. against me.” Reprimanding of Abraham 7 “I did not let you touch Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a her.” -Confronting of Abraham prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall (9,10) The promise concerning live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall Isaac was protected. surely die, you and all who are yours.” *Injury -Exhortation (7) “What have you done to us?” 8 “return the man’s wife” So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called “For the Lord had closed all his servants and told them all these things. And all the wombs of the house of Abimelech” (18) -Elaboration (7) the men were very much afraid. “he is a prophet” *Innocence -Extrication (8) 9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “how have I sinned against you?” (answer is implied) “rose early in the “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned morning” against you, that you have brought on me and my *Iniquity Abimelech was prompt in kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things “You have done to me things obeying the word of God to that ought not to be done.” that ought not to be done” remove himself from this situation. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version *Outline for Life of Abraham: Butler, John G – Abraham: The Father of the Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers Jews (Bible Biography Series, Number Nine), L B C Publications, 1998 Used by permission. All rights reserved. This handout can be downloaded in PDF format from: (www.teamagee.com/class) Life of Abraham – Bellevue Church of Christ Lesson X – Shame in Gerar* Auditorium Class – Winter / Spring 2013-2014 (Genesis 20:1-18) 10 -Contending by Abraham -Confronting of Abraham And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you (11-13) (Continued) see, that you did this thing?” *Character of Gerar *Instigation 11 Abraham Assumed à “There “What did you see, that Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God…in this à you did this thing?” is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will place” i.e. Why did you do this? kill me because of my wife.’ *Preservation of Life 12Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my “they will kill me” father though not the daughter of my mother, and she Compare to Gen 12:12 à became my wife. “Then they will kill me” Abraham put himself over others 13And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness Gen 12:13 à “that it may go well with me” you must do me: at every place to which we come, C. Reconciling of Men *Relationship of Sarah (14-18) say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” “she is indeed my sister” 14 -Propitiating by Abimelech Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male Even though this was a (14-16) servants and female servants, and gave them to half-truth, it was still deceitful *The Presentation Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. *Orders of God “sheep and oxen, and male 15 servants and female And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before Abraham blamed God, servants” you; dwell where it pleases you.” because He “caused me to wander.” “a thousand pieces of silver” *Kindness of the deed 16To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your Compare to Gen 12:16 brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of “This is the kindness you must do me” *The Restoration your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, This kindness was only “returned Sarah…” and before everyone you are vindicated.” one-sided *The Invitation 17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed “my land is before you; dwell where it pleases Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female you” slaves so that they bore children. Compare to Gen 12:19-20 18 ORD -Praying by Abraham For the L had closed all the wombs of the (17-18) house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. “Abraham prayed...God healed Abimelech…” Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version *Outline for Life of Abraham: Butler, John G – Abraham: The Father of the Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers Jews (Bible Biography Series, Number Nine), L B C Publications, 1998 Used by permission. All rights reserved. This handout can be downloaded in PDF format from: (www.teamagee.com/class) Life of Abraham – Bellevue Church of Christ Lesson X – Shame in Gerar* Auditorium Class – Winter / Spring 2013-2014 (Genesis 20:1-18) Compare To… Genesis 12:11–20 (ESV) 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” 14 When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” 20 And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had. Genesis 26:1–16 (ESV) 1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of 2 Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands.