-
†. Gen 20:4a . . Now Abimelech had not approached her.
It wasn't unusual in the ancient world for new additions to a harem to
undergo a period of beautification; like Esther did. But I think something
else happened. God may have tampered with Abimelech's ability to breed. In
verse 17 it's revealed that God fixed it so no one in Abimelech's house could
have children, including him. Do I have to spell it out? Hint: the problem can
sometimes be remedied with Viagra; which wasn't available in that day.
†. Gen 20:4b . . He said: O Lord, will You slay people even though
innocent?
There is an important principle in play here; and it's this: ignorance is no
excuse. Though Abimlech wasn't aware of that principle; God was and saved
the man's life by stopping him before he inadvertently crossed a line.
Compare Num 15:27-29 where Israel's covenanted law stipulates that even
when people sin inadvertently they have to bring a sin offering to the
Levites.
"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults." (Ps 19:12)
The "secret faults" about which the psalmist prayed weren't skeletons in his
closet; but rather, sins about which he was totally unaware.
†. Gen 20:5 . . He himself said to me "She is my sister" and she also
said "He is my brother." When I did this, my heart was blameless
and my hands were clean.
I can just about guarantee that Abimelech was developing a very strong dislike
for the Abrahams right about then. He knew of Abraham's prosperity and
about his skill in war. But what he hadn't known till now was that Abraham
could be a bit dishonest at times. You can bet that really ticked Abimelech
off. He just never expected a man like Abraham to pull a stunt like that. And
the wife was in on it too! They were like grifters setting up a mark for a
sting. That had to agitate the old boy just a bit; don't you think?
†. Gen 20:6 . . And God said to him in the dream: I knew that you did
this with a blameless heart, and so I kept you from sinning against
Me. That was why I did not let you touch her.
If Abimelech had touched Sarah, God would have taken it very personal.
Those kinds of sins are the very worst because it's one thing to appear in
court for stealing a car, but it's quite another to appear for stealing the
judge's car. In other words: a sin against God is a trespass rather than just
an ordinary act of conduct unbecoming.
†. Gen 20:7a . .Therefore, restore the man's wife-- since he is a
prophet, he will intercede for you --to save your life. If you fail to
restore her, know that you shall die, you and all that are yours.
This is the Bible's very first appearance of a prophet; which in Hebrew is
nabiy' (naw-bee') and simply means an inspired man; viz: a man influenced,
moved, and/or guided by a divine connection.
Abraham wasn't the first of God's inspired men. The earliest was Abel. (Luke
11:50-51)
There's no record of Abraham ever foretelling future events like Isaiah and
Habakkuk. So then, just because someone is inspired doesn't necessarily
mean they're some sort of prognosticator.
Divine inspiration is a very mysterious thing. People can be inspired and not
even know it because God's influence is paranormal, and impossible to
detect with the five natural senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Every Christian is supposed to be inspired (1Cor 2:11-15, 1Cor 12:7, 1John
2:26-27) which makes an inspired Bible teacher's job a whole lot easier.
This is also the very first place in the whole Bible where the word "intercede"
appears. Webster's defines it as: to intervene between parties with a view to
reconciling their differences; viz: mediate.
When you stop to think about it; mediation between God and Man by a
human being is quite remarkable. It implies that the human being who
mediates has to first be at peace with God or they would be in need of a
mediator themselves before they could mediate for someone else (cf. Gal
6:1).
I think it goes without saying, that mediators, then, have to be righteous
first before they can qualify as candidates for the activity. This section in
Genesis says a lot about Abraham's standing before God in spite of his bad
habit of lying about Sarah.
Who mediated for Abraham in those days? There's but one textual possibility
and that's Mr. Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God back in chapter
14.
But I don't think Abimelech was much impressed with Abraham's inspiration.
The man was now a proven liar; and lost whatever credibility he might have
once had in Gerar.
"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking
smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor."
(Ecc 10:1)
However, do you think Abimelech needed to be told twice? No way. He got
on it lickety split at first light. But not because he feared Abraham. No,
because he feared Abraham's god. Maybe Abraham's word was no good; but
his god's word certainly was and Abimelech really took it to heart.
†. Gen 20:8a . . Early next morning, Abimelech called his servants
and told them all that had happened;
Under normal circumstances Abimelech probably wouldn't have bothered to
tell them what was going on. But since they were all in the same boat as he,
and all inflicted with the same reproductive malady, I think he felt they
deserved an explanation. I think he also wanted to set their minds at ease
about their condition so they would know it wasn't permanent if only they
sent Sarah back to her husband; a move which they would certainly
question if he didn't give them a reason why.
†. Gen 20:8b . . and the men were greatly frightened.
They had good reason to be frightened. God gave them a token that He
meant business by tampering with their ability to breed. So they knew
something serious was afoot and that their king's nightmares weren't just
bad dreams brought on by cheap Russian vodka tainted with fallout from
Chernobyl.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 20:4a . . Now Abimelech had not approached her.
It wasn't unusual in the ancient world for new additions to a harem to
undergo a period of beautification; like Esther did. But I think something
else happened. God may have tampered with Abimelech's ability to breed. In
verse 17 it's revealed that God fixed it so no one in Abimelech's house could
have children, including him. Do I have to spell it out? Hint: the problem can
sometimes be remedied with Viagra; which wasn't available in that day.
†. Gen 20:4b . . He said: O Lord, will You slay people even though
innocent?
There is an important principle in play here; and it's this: ignorance is no
excuse. Though Abimlech wasn't aware of that principle; God was and saved
the man's life by stopping him before he inadvertently crossed a line.
Compare Num 15:27-29 where Israel's covenanted law stipulates that even
when people sin inadvertently they have to bring a sin offering to the
Levites.
"Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults." (Ps 19:12)
The "secret faults" about which the psalmist prayed weren't skeletons in his
closet; but rather, sins about which he was totally unaware.
†. Gen 20:5 . . He himself said to me "She is my sister" and she also
said "He is my brother." When I did this, my heart was blameless
and my hands were clean.
I can just about guarantee that Abimelech was developing a very strong dislike
for the Abrahams right about then. He knew of Abraham's prosperity and
about his skill in war. But what he hadn't known till now was that Abraham
could be a bit dishonest at times. You can bet that really ticked Abimelech
off. He just never expected a man like Abraham to pull a stunt like that. And
the wife was in on it too! They were like grifters setting up a mark for a
sting. That had to agitate the old boy just a bit; don't you think?
†. Gen 20:6 . . And God said to him in the dream: I knew that you did
this with a blameless heart, and so I kept you from sinning against
Me. That was why I did not let you touch her.
If Abimelech had touched Sarah, God would have taken it very personal.
Those kinds of sins are the very worst because it's one thing to appear in
court for stealing a car, but it's quite another to appear for stealing the
judge's car. In other words: a sin against God is a trespass rather than just
an ordinary act of conduct unbecoming.
†. Gen 20:7a . .Therefore, restore the man's wife-- since he is a
prophet, he will intercede for you --to save your life. If you fail to
restore her, know that you shall die, you and all that are yours.
This is the Bible's very first appearance of a prophet; which in Hebrew is
nabiy' (naw-bee') and simply means an inspired man; viz: a man influenced,
moved, and/or guided by a divine connection.
Abraham wasn't the first of God's inspired men. The earliest was Abel. (Luke
11:50-51)
There's no record of Abraham ever foretelling future events like Isaiah and
Habakkuk. So then, just because someone is inspired doesn't necessarily
mean they're some sort of prognosticator.
Divine inspiration is a very mysterious thing. People can be inspired and not
even know it because God's influence is paranormal, and impossible to
detect with the five natural senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.
Every Christian is supposed to be inspired (1Cor 2:11-15, 1Cor 12:7, 1John
2:26-27) which makes an inspired Bible teacher's job a whole lot easier.
This is also the very first place in the whole Bible where the word "intercede"
appears. Webster's defines it as: to intervene between parties with a view to
reconciling their differences; viz: mediate.
When you stop to think about it; mediation between God and Man by a
human being is quite remarkable. It implies that the human being who
mediates has to first be at peace with God or they would be in need of a
mediator themselves before they could mediate for someone else (cf. Gal
6:1).
I think it goes without saying, that mediators, then, have to be righteous
first before they can qualify as candidates for the activity. This section in
Genesis says a lot about Abraham's standing before God in spite of his bad
habit of lying about Sarah.
Who mediated for Abraham in those days? There's but one textual possibility
and that's Mr. Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God back in chapter
14.
But I don't think Abimelech was much impressed with Abraham's inspiration.
The man was now a proven liar; and lost whatever credibility he might have
once had in Gerar.
"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking
smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor."
(Ecc 10:1)
However, do you think Abimelech needed to be told twice? No way. He got
on it lickety split at first light. But not because he feared Abraham. No,
because he feared Abraham's god. Maybe Abraham's word was no good; but
his god's word certainly was and Abimelech really took it to heart.
†. Gen 20:8a . . Early next morning, Abimelech called his servants
and told them all that had happened;
Under normal circumstances Abimelech probably wouldn't have bothered to
tell them what was going on. But since they were all in the same boat as he,
and all inflicted with the same reproductive malady, I think he felt they
deserved an explanation. I think he also wanted to set their minds at ease
about their condition so they would know it wasn't permanent if only they
sent Sarah back to her husband; a move which they would certainly
question if he didn't give them a reason why.
†. Gen 20:8b . . and the men were greatly frightened.
They had good reason to be frightened. God gave them a token that He
meant business by tampering with their ability to breed. So they knew
something serious was afoot and that their king's nightmares weren't just
bad dreams brought on by cheap Russian vodka tainted with fallout from
Chernobyl.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=