A Pilgrim's Journal

This is the dilemma that Abraham faced many times in his life. There are two recorded instances of his dealings with such men, one in Genesis 12 with Pharaoh in Egypt, and again in Genesis 20 with Abimelech. I won't quote them here, since they are long, but you can read them easily in the version of your choice with the above links.

It is interesting that I often hear people looking down on Abraham, claiming that his deception indicated a lack of faith or trust in the Lord. In fact, even the footnotes in my KJV study Bible seem quick to point out the deception and basically call Abraham a liar.

But I cannot escape the fact that one Person seems silent on the matter. The same God that had no trouble cross-examining Job, who in God's own words was "a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil," (Job 1:8) does not say a thing to Abraham about this craftiness. God has a lot to say to Abraham. He blesses him, establishes a covenant with him, tests him, but doesn't seem to rebuke him. Abraham seems to pass God's tests each time.

When I ponder the story of Abraham and Abimelech, I start to see both a great show of faith, and a practical lesson for myself, from each man respectively.

Let's start with Sarah. This was a beautiful woman. So beautiful that men would kill for her. And she was not just beautiful to look at, but she had an inner beauty that came from trusting God. She was strong, willing to travel with her husband to who-knows-where. She was submissive, willing to do anything her husband commanded her, even to the point of calling him "master" or "lord". (1 Peter 3:6, depending on the translation)

And all this in a woman who was over 90 years old at the time! (Genesis 17:17)

So here comes Abraham, rich with flocks of animals and many servants, with this beautiful wife on his arm, marching into Abimelech's country. And Abraham can tell right way: there is no fear of God in this place. (Genesis 20:11) He can see that look in men's eyes, and knows that in their hearts, they are secretly sharpening their knives.

What would be the prudent thing to do? Get out of Dodge! But here's the problem: apparently there are many places just like this (Genesis 20:13), and Abraham has no choice. God has commanded him to be on the move. There is no going back to his father's household.

So plan A is out. What's plan B? Guards! He could hire lots of armed guards, and provide his wife with 24 hour protection. These guards would be highly trained, and they would all be female, since he couldn't really trust the guys with such a delicate task. The chuckwagon would be heavily armoured, and his wife's location would be known at all times.

That takes care of Sarah's security. But wait! The real threat is to Abraham! He is the one they want to kill, in order to take all his possessions, and his wife! So more guards are in order. This time the biggest, strongest Hebrew lads around, highly trained in martial arts, with sword, spear, and arrow. Abraham would go nowhere without his armed guard. He'd even send some ahead to make sure there were no booby traps.

Is this what Abraham does? No.

Instead, he uses crafty wisdom. Both practical wisdom and Godly wisdom.

He, and his wife, behave like brother and sister, and tell everyone that fact. (Genesis 20:12, Proverbs 22:3)

I see three reasons why this shows great faith and wisdom on Abraham's part.

First, by proclaiming Sarah as his sister, he turned all his enemies into his friends. Now, these "friends" were not any better men than when they were his enemies, except with one difference: they weren't looking to kill him anymore. Instead, they were trying to get into his good graces, and giving him gifts to get on his good side, hoping they would be the one to win the fair hand of Sarah. This is what happened in Egypt.

It may look like Abraham was too afraid to take a stand here, but remember that this is a rich man. He is not a pushover. He can easily round up 318 men of his own and go to war at the drop of a hat, which is what he did when his nephew Lot was kidnapped in Genesis 14. If the need was for war, Abraham would have been ready.

But this happens at all cities, and even though God told him to wander, and even though God promised him the land of Israel to his descendents, this was not the time to put God to the test and run into a hasty conquest. In fact, in so many ways, Abraham was a meek and humble man. (Genesis 23:7, and Genesis 12:4)

So this crisis called for a more subtle solution. Not just a practical and risky solution, but Godly solution. So...

Secondly, by proclaiming Sarah as his sister, he was placing huge and secret faith in God.

His best defence is no defence. This boggles the mind, for he opens his wife to the risk of another marriage!

When Abimelech hears of this newcomer, his eyebrows shoot up. He's the king, and no lesser man will have this woman as his wife! Sure, she's 90 years old, but have you seen her? She's a knockout.

He sends for her, and takes her:

	And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and
	Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
	   Genesis 20:2

The word "took" is the same word used between Isaac and Rebekah:

	And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took
	Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac
	was comforted after his mother's death.
	   Genesis 24:67

The Hebrew word, according to Strong's numbers, is Laqach, and can mean marriage. It doesn't always mean that, but in the context, I think the implication is strong. I don't know about you, but if I were Abraham, I'd want some different word used right about now...

But what does Abraham do?

He lets her go! What kind of man would do this? What kind of woman would? This is not the natural reaction for a man who has the means to defend his house and home.

It doesn't say if Abraham was present when Abimelech's men show up, but this was the logical conclusion of his original plan, so he couldn't be that shocked when it happened. And Sarah goes along, because that is what Abraham asked her to do.

It doesn't say what Abraham was doing while Sarah was gone, but God does call Abraham a prophet (Genesis 20:7), so it would make sense if Abraham prayed to God for help.

And what are the results?

Thirdly, by quietly trusting in God, Abraham puts the whole situation in God's hands, not man's hands, and God is glorified.

In the same country where there was no fear of God, suddenly Abimelech and his men are scared of Abraham, and terrified of God. The same men what would have thought nothing of killing Abraham to take what he had are now fearfully giving him gifts of recompense, giving Sarah gifts to clear her name, and either telling him to leave, like Pharaoh did, or pleading for a truce, like Abimelech did (Genesis 21).

All this without fighting, without bloodshed, and without the stress of trying to defend what's yours. This looks like wisdom in rough circumstances to me. The big question is: do I have that kind of faith? (Matthew 5:39-42, Romans 13:1-2)

There's one more lesson that I see in this chapter, and this is from Abimelech. He pleaded with God, saying that he had taken Sarah with integrity in his heart. He did not know she was married, so how could he be held to blame? God agreed with this analysis, but only to a certain extent. His integrity was enough to prevent his death, and enough to receive a direct warning from God, but it was not enough to keep him out of hot water. He still had to pay Abraham and Sarah for what he had done, even though by all human accounts, he couldn't have done things any better.

What's the lesson? I think the lesson is in the words of Job.

	5 If I have walked in falsehood
	  or my foot has hurried after deceit
	6 let God weigh me in honest scales
	  and he will know that I am blameless
	7 if my steps have turned from the path,
	  if my heart has been led by my eyes,
	  or if my hands have been defiled,
	8 then may others eat what I have sown,
	  and may my crops be uprooted.
	     Job 31 (NIV 1984)

I was nearly blown away when I stumbled on verse 7 the other day, because it describes me, and this world, so well. We let the desires of our heart be inspired with what we see. And this opens us up to all kinds of risk, and even manipulation by external forces. Advertising, temptation, even innocent looking things may have danger underneath, as Abimelech discovered the hard way.

What would you do if your eyes were closed? Doesn't that change your perspective? What would you do with your eyes closed, your ears plugged, your mouth shut, and your sex drive gone? Would your life suddenly be calmer? More peaceful? Would there be a different focus? Perhaps a better focus?

	39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world,
	that they which see not might see; and that they which see
	might be made blind.
	40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these
	words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
	41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin:
	but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
	   John 9:39-41
 
	Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that
	I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the
	Lord's servant?
	   Isaiah 42:19

Jesus was the ultimate blind man, seeing God and not letting His heart be led by His eyes. He is perfect: blind and deaf to the temptations of the world.

Is there a way to avoid Abimelech's error? Even in the face of a crafty defence?

	5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
	thine own understanding.
  
	6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
	   Proverbs 3

Oh Lord, let me be similarly blind and deaf, so that I may see You!

Edit: It occurs to me that, in light of Romans 13, it could be argued that God did rebuke Abraham through the king, Abimelech, in Genesis 20:9: "thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done." How much of this message was God speaking to Abraham, and how much was just Abimelech's fear and injured pride, I'm not sure. Abimelech was the one who assumed Sarah was not married. A woman can be a sister and still be married; she might not wear a ring, and still be married.

It still seems odd to me that God, Who often talked directly to Abraham, would not have told him to stop this practice before now if it was indeed wrong. But perhaps this was the final time for Abraham's ruse, for after this came the convenant between Abraham and Abimelech, and they lived peacefully together for some time.