Genesis 20:1-7. 1From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Have you ever done the same bad thing again, after you said you would never do it again? I know I have. In this story we see Abraham doing the same exact wrong thing that he did back in Genesis 12. In Genesis 12, Abraham left the Promised Land, went south to Egypt, told the king that his wife, Sarah, was his sister, and almost got everyone in really big trouble.
Here in Genesis 20, Abraham will leave the Promised Land, go south to Gerar, tell the king, Abimelech, that his wife, Sarah, is his sister, and almost get everyone in big trouble.
Why does Abraham repeat this same sin? Why does he feel like he has to lie to protect himself? Why do we lie to protect ourselves sometimes?
Later in the chapter, Abraham will explain to King Abimelech that he asked Sarah to lie for him wherever they go. Why? Because Abraham is afraid that the kings will kill him in order to steal his wife away because she is so beautiful. But what does this tell us about Abraham and his faith in God?
That’s what makes this story seem so strange. Abraham has just met with God at his own tent. Remember, Jesus came to Abraham with two angels. They ate together. They talked together. And Jesus promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a baby boy by the next year. Then Abraham prayed for Sodom and for Lot, and Lot was rescued even though there weren’t ten righteous people in Sodom like Abraham prayed.
You would think that the next story would be about something amazing Abraham did, or about the birth of his son, Isaac, the child of the promise. But instead we get this story about Abraham going backwards in his faith and obedience. Why? Why is this story here?
Maybe God wants us to remember that even the great heroes of the faith are not without their failures and mistakes (that’s for sure). Or maybe God wants us to be aware that just when things are going well, that’s when the devil will tempt us to do something wrong, probably the same wrong thing that we always do. Like lie. Or get angry. Or blame your brother or sister. Or whine and pout when mom and dad ask you to do something.
The other thing that God wants us to remember is that the devil will always tempt us at the thing we are afraid of the most. Abraham was afraid of losing his wife and even of being killed…so he lied. You’re probably not afraid of those same exact things, but you might be afraid of something. For example, if you are afraid that the other kids won’t like you, then you will likely be tempted to lie in order to fit in.
Abraham failed to remember the promises God made to him, and so he did what he wanted to do and even gave into temptation in order to feel safe. But with Jesus we can always feel safe. We can always fit in. We can always be loved and accepted. And that’s why we don’t have to listen to the devil, and we definitely don’t have to lie.
You: Can you name what you are afraid of? For example, I am afraid of not fitting in.
You with Jesus: How does knowing that we have Jesus and all of his love help us to not fear what others think of us?
Prayer: Father, I don’t want to be afraid and I don’t want to be selfish, repeating the same sins over and over. Help me to keep trusting that your promises to me are true and all I need to feel good. Amen.
