The lie of Abraham

• 1^st – Not understanding God… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah… vs. 1
    • Abraham went to THE south – [הַנֶּגֶב] between Kadesh and Shur and dwelt in Gerar…
      • Rattled by the events he witnessed – not knowing if Lot was even alive…
      • Abraham might have been confused – He thought God would spare the cities!
      • Perhaps doubting the Lord – Abraham left Mamre – where he met with God…
      • And instead went to the Negev (south) to the city of Gerar!
    • Gerar was a city of the Philistines – a people who did not know or follow the Lord…
      • Kadesh means – Holy / Shur mean – wall / Gerar – from root word meaning to drag away…
      • Abraham wound up dwelling in between the HOLY (Lord) and the WALL (world) …
      • As a result – he was dragged away from the Lord into the world!
      • There are going to be times in life when we do NOT understand what the Lord is doing…
      • And God never claims we will always understand – Isaiah 55:8-9
      • Yet that is when it is the MOST important to cling to Jesus…
      • Because if we let doubt seep into our lives – it can lead to us being pulled away from Jesus!
    • Not understanding the purposes of God is a MAJOR problem in the world today…
      • People are confused – because how can a God of LOVE – allow bad things to happen!
      • God never promises people and EASY life – He desires for them to have ETERNAL life!
      • Often that means HARDSHIPS in life – BAD THIGNS – causing people to look to God!
        
      • Job was a VERY good man – but lost everything – his wealth / his family / his health…
      • One might question why God would let such hardships come on someone He loves…
      • Before the trials Job only knew about God – after He say God with his own eyes!
      • Job 42:5 – “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.”
      • We often assume bad things only happen to bad people – you get what you deserve…
      • But the truth is God lets bad things happen to good people – those whom He LOVES…
      • Because it is in the hard times of life we cry out to and draw close to God!
  • 2^nd – The King of Gerar… vs. 2
    • Abraham told the inhabitants of Gerar – Sarah his WIFE – was his SISTER…
      • Abimelech – the King of Gerar then took Sarah as his wife!
      • Abimelech (title) – meaning Abi (father) Melech (king) – my father is king
    • There are two possibilities why Abimelech took Sarah as a wife…
      • Sarah was a very beautiful woman – Genesis 12:14
      • So beautiful Abraham had feared he would be killed so another man could get her…
      • But unlike Genesis 12 – there is no mention of her beauty here…
      • It is unlikely Abimelech married Sarah – now 90 years old – for her beauty!
    • Abimelech married Sarah for political reasons…
      • It may be that Abimelech wanted to gain influence with Abraham…
      • By this time Abraham was rich and powerful…
      • By marrying Sarah – his sister – he was allying himself with Abraham!
    • A direct result of choices…
      • The choice for Abraham to JOURNEY (sequential imperfect) south directly led to…
      • Abimelech TAKING (sequential imperfect) Sarah as his wife…
      • When things do not go the way we want – there is a temptation to blame God…
      • It is your fault God – why did YOU let things go wrong – I do not want you anymore…
      • Yet often we are actually suffering from our own poor decisions – sinful choices!
• 2^nd – The dream of Abimelech… vs. 3-7
  • 1^st – The Lord came by night in a dream to Abimelech… vs. 3
    • This is the first time a dream is mentioned in the Bible – and it is FROM the Lord…
      • Now God can speak through dreams – Joseph had two dreams he would rule over his family…
      • And it is not just limited to the men in the Bible – God says He will give us dreams!
      • Joel 2:28 – “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”
    • Although God can speak to us through dreams – that does not mean all dreams are from God…
      • Ecclesiastes 5:7 – “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.”
      • Our dream from last night might be from the Lord – or from eating too much lumpia…
      • The way to test the dream is to compare it to the Word – know your Bible!
      • If the dream contradicts the Word of God in any way – reject it – it is not from the Lord…
      • Before you make any rash decision based on dreams – make sure they are from God!
  • 2^nd – Ignorant of sin… vs. 3
    • The Lord revealed to Abimelech – Sarah was married already to Abraham…
      • The consequence of keeping her as his wife would be his death…
      • Why so severe a punishment – Sarah was not just married – she was going to get pregnant…
      • And the child was the son of Promise – from whom the Messiah would come!
    • One might argue – why would God punish someone who sinned in IGNORANCE!
      • If someone breaks a law – but did not know the law – are they not punished…
      • If the law says the speed limit is 20km – but I did not see the sign – can I go 100km!
      • Sin always has consequences – whether we know we are wrong or not!
      • Ignorance is not an excuse with God – who knows the hearts of all men…
      • Everything we do – every idle word we say – every thought we think…
      • Will one day have to answer for before the judgment seat of God – Matthew 12:36
      • Unless we are covered by the forgiveness of the cross – saved by faith in Jesus!
      • Proverbs 24:12 – “Do not try to avoid responsibility by saying you did not know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew… will judge all people according to what they have done.”
  • 3^rd – The Effects of sin… vs. 4-5
    • Abimelech answered Lord – will You slay a righteous nation – referring to his ignorance…
      • Abraham had told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister…
      • Sarah herself had said that she was the sister of Abraham
      • What he had done – was done ignorantly – he did NOT know!
    • We often make the mistake of thinking that our choices only affect us…
      • When God called Jonah to warn the Assyrians of impending judgement…
      • Jonah ran from the presence of the Lord – and got on a boat to Tarshish – Jonah 1:3-4
      • The Lord sent a powerful storm that almost sank the boat – with ALL the men on board…
      • The sin of Jonah did not just affect him – all around him suffered as well!
      • If we choose to sin – we are not the only ones to face the consequences – we hurt others…
      • The power of our example is amazing – people tend to follow – good or bad…
      • Stand outside and look up – see how long it takes for others to look up too…
      • The truth is that our sins do affects many people – our kids / family / friends!
  • 4^th – Our accountability for sin… vs. 6-7
    • The Lord kept Abimelech from being with Sarah…
      • There is a LOT of emphasis in the HEBREW on the Lord in His statement to Abimelech…
      • I – EVEN I (emphasis) – know that you did this in integrity of the heart (clean conscience) …
      • I – EVEN I (emphasis) – kept you from sinning against me…
      • Therefore – YOU did not touch her – God was the one who had kept Abimelech from sinning!
      • We are not GIVEN the circumstances that kept Abimelech from Sarah…
      • But we are TOLD they were FROM the Lord – to keep him from making a fatal choice!
      • Earlier this year we were walking by a river in Japan – slippery rocks – I fell in the water…
      • My cell phone was ruined – and could only be repaired in the US…
      • I looked up a place to get phone in Bacolod – top of the list was I-Warehouse…
      • When I walk in and asked about a phone – speaking in Ilonggo – I met Mike!
      • God will often close / open door to direct our steps in very natural ways…
      • But make NO MISTAKE about it – it is the Lord who is directing our steps!
      • Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…”
    • The Lord commanded Abimelech return Sarah to Abraham…
      • If he did Abraham the PROPHET would pray for him – and all would be well!
      • First mention of PROPHET in the Bible – [נָבִיא] 316x in OT – a spokesperson for God…
      • The idea is that Abraham – rather than lying about who his wife was…
      • Would instead tell Abimelech about God that He serves – and prays to!
      • There is a LOT of confusion today about the calling and purpose of a PROPHET…
      • The role of a PROPHET is to call people to REPENTANCE…
      • First and foremost – through the preaching of the Word of God…
      • Because it is through the Word that there is conviction – it reveals our sinful nature!
    • If NOT – Abimelech and his whole house – would perish…
      • Abimelech would not be punished for what Abraham had done…
      • He was not punished for marrying Sarah in ignorance…
      • But he would face the consequences for what he did next!
      • We are affected by the sins of others – but that is not an excuse…
      • We cannot blame someone else for our choices…
      • We cannot say we are mean and angry – because we had bad parents…
      • We cannot say we steal – because others make us poor…
      • We cannot hurt others – because they hurt us first…
      • In the end we each stand accountable for our own actions and choices!
• 3^rd – The response of Abimelech… vs. 8-10
  • 1^st – Early the next morning… vs. 8
    • Abimelech did not wait around – there was no delay…
      • He called all his servants and told them about the contents of his dream…
      • Then ALL of them were VERY afraid!
      • Abimelech then called for Abraham – and asked him three questions!
    • What have you done to us…
      • This first question he answers for Abraham at the end of verse 8…
      • You have done deeds which ought not to be done!
      • I Corinthians 5:1 – a man in church who was having an affair with his mother-in-law…
      • But the church was allowing this person to come freely to church with question!
      • Paul told them the sin was so serious – even non-believers were ashamed…
      • Keep in mind the incredibly immoral nature of the city of Corinth…
      • Known for the 1000 temple prostitutes that came down each night into the city…
      • Yet even these pagans were ashamed to mention this particular sin!
      • God indents for His church to set a standard of righteousness – godly living…
      • It is a sad testimony – when the world knows right and wrong – better than believers!
    • How have I offended you…
      • The assumption is that Abraham was seeking to destroy Abimelech…
      • God had told him that the penalty for his actions would be his DEATH…
      • Assuming Abraham knew the penalty – he concluded Abraham wanted him dead!
    • What was your reasoning for doing this…
      • Perhaps – seeing the embarrassed reaction of Abraham to the second question…
      • Abimelech realized this was not a devious plot to kill him…
      • And asks him – was then was your reasoning for your actions – what were you thinking!
      • A valid question – was Abraham willing to give up his wife!
      • The only conclusion you can come to – is that Abraham was NOT thinking!
      • Proverbs 2:6 – “The LORD gives wisdom; From [Him comes] knowledge and understanding.”
      • Wisdom – the ability to think clearly and rationally – comes from the Lord…
      • When we are not living for the Lord – when we live in doubt and fear…
      • We no longer have ability to think or reason clearly – we make FOOLISH choices!
  • 2^nd – Confronting sin…
    • Abimelech could have just returned Sarah and walked away…
      • But he was willing to confront Abraham – confront sin…
      • The result was that there was the opportunity for either restoration or reproof…
      • Restoration if there had been a misunderstanding / reproof if there was sin!
    • Matthew 18:15-20 – Jesus gave 4 steps to dealing when someone sins against us! 

• 1^st – Go (Present/Active/Imperative) to your brother alone…
  • We might have misunderstood something that was done or said…
  • Simply taking the time to talk to the person resolves the problem…
  • Or if there is sin and they repent – then there is forgiveness – I John 1:9
• 2^nd – Take (Aorist/Active/Imperative) one or two others with you…
  • If our brother will not hear us – then bring a mediator…
  • The opportunity is to have someone who is impartial help bring restoration!
  • If it is a misunderstanding – then they can help clarify to both parties…
  • If it is a matter of unrepentant sin – verified by more than one person!
• 3^rd – Tell (Aorist/Active/Imperative) the church…
  • If they still refuse to hear – are unwilling to admit any wrong – or seek restoration…
  • Now the command is to bring the person (and the sin) before the local church!
  • The desire is to impress the severity of sin – do not just pass it over…
  • It is far too easy to wink at sin – just let it go on in the church…
  • By confronting sin as the church – the church is kept from sin and compromise!
• 4^th – Let (Present/Imperative) them be to you as an like an unbeliever…
  • If they still refuse to hear – treat them as an unbeliever…
  • No matter what words are said – the fruit of their life does not show salvation!
  • I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not [continue to] sin…”
  • We cannot say we are saved and continue to live in unrepentant sin…
  • So the most loving thing to do is to treat them as if they are not saved…
  • Then we can give them the greatest need they have – the Gospel!

• Not just for our sakes…
  • I Corinthians 5:6 – “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
  • When sin goes unchecked it encourages others to sin…
  • Just as a LITTLE mud can quickly contaminate – make all the water unclean…
  • A little sin can quickly spread out and infect a whole family or church!
• Too often when someone sins against us – we just want to walk away…
  • There is a tendency in our culture – to avoid confrontation…
  • If someone does something wrong – the accepted response it to IGNORE it / them…
  • As if somehow time will miraculously make everything OK!
  • Ignoring a problem – will make it 10x BIGGER – it is not worth the damage…
  • If we try and IGNORE a problem – we give an opportunity to satan…
  • Satan would love to cause division within the church – bitterness and hate…
  • Do not let satan rob the church of the forgiveness / Joy Jesus provides – II Corinthians 2:11

• 4^th – Justifying of sin… vs. 11-13
  • 1^st – Surely the fear of God was not in this place… vs. 11
    • The Fear of God [יִרְאָה אֱלֹהִים] – used 5x in OT – additional 26x as – Fear of the Lord…
      • Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”
      • Much of the world today scoffs at the Bible – because they do not fear the Lord…
      • They do not fear the judgment seat – they do not fear the Lake of fire…
      • But there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
      • Wise sinners who feared the Lord and saw their need for Jesus – and those who did not…
      • For those who reject Jesus – all that waits them is certain and terrifying judgment!
      • Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…”
        
    • No doubt Abraham was accurate in his assessment of the people
      • The Philistines – as recorded later in scripture – were a very wicked people…
      • Yet lying to them certainly did nothing to give an example of righteousness!
      • We do live in a sinful world – but that does not mean we should sin…
      • Jesus calls us to be lights to the world – different from the world…
      • If we look and act like the world – why would they want to know about Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Indeed she is my sister… vs. 12
    • Sarah was the half-sister Abraham– they had the same father…
      • Abraham justified his lie – saying it was part truth!
      • Is there such thing as a half-truth – a white or little lie…
      • A half-truth has the same purpose as a FULL lie – to deceive – and is equally sin!
    • Exodus 20:16 – one of the 10 commandments is – do not LIE!
      • Which leaves the question – is there ever a good reason not to tell the truth…
      • Such as if it keeps someone from having hurt feelings – how do I look – ugly…
      • Or to save a life – like the midwives in the days of Moses – Exodus 1:19
      • The end does not justify the means – it is as much about the journey as the destination!
      • There is never a good reason to lie – it is depending on our efforts!
      • Better to be honest – tell the truth – and trust in / depend on the Lord!
    • Abraham was just making excuses for his sin…
      • There are two option when we are confronted with sin…
      • We can justify – give all our reasons and excuses why we did what we did…
      • Or was can repent – simply say that we are sorry
      • Excuses bring isolation – from God and from others – repentance brings restoration!
  • 3^rd – Not the first time…
    • From the time God called Abraham to WANDER out of the house of his father…
      • WANDER – 50x in OT – never used in a good sense…
      • Used of animals going astray / drunken men staggering / of sinful seduction…
      • Of the lies of a prophet causing the people to err / the path of a lying heart!
      • Six other words are translated WANDER in OT – Abraham chose the worst word available!
      • In other words rather than taking the blame for his sin – he BLAMED God!
    • Abraham told Sarah to say this – in every place – wherever they went!
      • Genesis 12 – when there was a famine in the land of Canaan
      • And Abraham went down to Egypt – he told the Pharaoh – she is my sister!
      • You would think that Abraham would have learned by this time…
      • Even after years of walking with the Lord Abraham still made mistakes…
      • After years of walking with the Lord he made the SAME mistakes!
      • Proverbs 24:16 – “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”
      • We are ALL going to have our moments – when we sin – maybe the SAME sin…
      • But God is not surprised when we make mistakes – He knows we are sinners…
      • The important thing is to repent – apologize to those who have offended…
      • Run back to Jesus and ask Him to do a work in our heart again!
      • It is important to remember that we are not perfect – just forgiven!
• 5^th – Pointing back to Jesus… vs. 14-18
  • 1^st – Abimelech gave sheep / oxen / and servants to Abraham… vs. 14-18
    • And he told him the land was before him – to dwell in any GOOD place he chose…
      
      • Note he did NOT want Abraham to stay with him – that bridge had been burned…
      • The hope of being a good witness to Abimelech and the Philistines had been lost!
    • Then Abimelech said to Sarah…
      • I have given 1000 pieces of silver to your BROTHER…
      • This vindicates you – or literally – cover the eyes…
      • There are two interpretations on just what this means…
      • It could mean he was covering for any embarrassment he had caused…
      • It could also mean Abraham was the covering of Sarah from the eyes of others!
    • Abraham and Sarah trusted twice in their ruse to keep them safe…
      • Abimelech point was that being the Husband of Abraham was enough…
      • The sin of Abraham and Sarah was trusting in the themselves and NOT the Lord!
    • Abraham prayed for Abimelech…
      • The Lord Abimelech – his wife – and his female servants (concubines) …
      • None of them had been able to bear children – because of Sarah!
  • 2^nd – Two great lessons…
    • First – we see the calamity that can come from not putting our TRUST in the Lord…
    • Because Abraham did not understand God – Sodom – he wandered from the Lord!
    • Second – we see that God uses all things for His purposes…
    • Although I am sure this was not a pleasant experience for Abraham or Sarah…
    • God used it to show Abraham his heart – using a pagan king – to rebuke the father of FAITH!