BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 16

Impact of a Decision

Genesis 20

Me-

I cannot count the number of times over the years that I have been told, if I mention to someone about a habit they have, “what I do only affects me and no one else.”  As much as any of us might like to think that is a true statement, nothing could be further from the truth.  I would go so far as to say that even if I decide not to make a decision in a given situation that non-decision will still impact those around us. 

For Instance, one who smokes may not be aware or care that the effect of second hand smoke has devastating health consequences.  But, on a more personal note, what about spiritual choices I make?  I have heard a statistic from somewhere that each of us will impact the lives of ten thousand people.  The ripple effect of choices I make do have lasting results.  If I say I am a follower of Christ but act like He does not live in me then I will, very possibly, turn people off from coming to Christ.

We-

Churches can make decisions that will either draw people to Christ or cause them to reject Him forever.  One of the most important issues facing the church today is what we believe about the Bible.  Is it the infallible Word of God or just a nice collection of myths and stories?  Sadly, many churches have drifted into liberalism causing many to marginalize Christians because they are now just like the rest of society.  There are other aspects of what a church does that will cause a person to want to become a member of that particular community of believers.  They may include:

• Are the members genuinely and intentionally friendly and loving towards new people and each other?
• What does the building and grounds look like?
• What does the church truly believe about God’s Word and how does it influence the daily walk of its people?

I used the word intentional because whatever we do for Christ must reflect a strong desire to serve Him.  Abraham had been judged as righteous because of his faith.  His actions sometimes did not reflect a man who truly believed God would protect him and fulfill His promises to him. Today’s lesson is about one of those lapses on his part.

Genesis 20:1

For some unknown reason Abraham decided to move.  God’s silence would indicate that He was not directing Abraham to leave Mamre.  As he travelled towards the Negev he used the same route that he had taken when he went into Egypt.  After spending time between Kadesh and Shur his journey ended up in Gerar in the land of the Philistines.

1. What could have been the reason that Abraham moved?
2. How do we know this was not in God’s plan for him?
3. How does his move resemble some of the decisions we make?

Genesis 20:2

Once again Abraham, when confronted with the unknown, told the people of the city that Sarah was his sister.  It resulted in Abimelech, the king in Gerar, taking Sarah as one of his wives. It may seem strange that a man would take a woman who was ninety years old to be his wife.  There may be two underlying factors for such a move on the part of Abimelech. The first may have been that it was a marriage with economic ramifications. It would have been obvious that Abraham was a very wealthy man.  Abimelech could have easily decided that it suited his purpose economically to make an alliance with that wealthy individual who had taken up residence in his territory.

The second reason was the important one as it pertains to what followed his decision.  He may have believed that as king he had the right to take anyone that he wanted to be his wife.  It would have made no difference about her marital state, although in the case of Sarah, Abraham had used deception to protect himself.  Abimelech made rules to suit himself.

1. Why did Abraham use the same old ploy with Abimelech of calling Sarah his sister?
2. Why would his decision seem more reprehensible this time than when he went into Egypt?
3. Why did Abimelech take Sarah as a wife?
4. Why was it economically to his advantage to take her as his wife?
5. What would  be the other reason for him to make Sarah his wife?

Genesis 20:3

God intervened in the situation.  His words to Abimelech were very strong.  God saw what he had done as a sinful act deserving death.  Adultery was a capital crime at that time in Middle Eastern culture.  In his mind, as will be seen shortly, he had done wrong by taking Sarah into his harem.  One commentator spoke of his actions as having kidnapped her.  Because of that one deed he was told that he was as good as dead in God’s eyes.   .

1. Why did God intervene?
2. What were the accusations that God brought against Abimelech?
3. How might God view the taking of Sarah as kidnapping?
4. Why did God view Abimelech as dead?

Genesis 20:4-5

Fortunately for Abimelech he had not had relations with Sarah. This might also be an indication that this was a marriage to bring about an alliance with Abraham. At that point Abimelech began to defend himself in view of God’s words to him. He pointed out several things that would prove his innocence in the matter.  As will be repeated below his defense was based on his own standards and rules for life and the way he would treat others.

• He considered himself blameless and was only concerned that God might destroy the whole nation.
• Abraham had brought about the current status by stating that Sarah was his sister.
• He was a man of integrity
• He was innocent of any wrong doing.

 

1. What was the one fact that would save Abimelech and his people?
2. What was his defense to God?
3. In what ways do you see Abimelech’s side of the story as valid?
4. In what ways was he have guilty before God?
5. What does this say about Abraham that he would put his wife in such a compromising position?

Genesis 20:6

God’s response to Abimelech indicated how much He had played a part in the incident.  He first acknowledged that Abimelech was speaking the truth, as he saw it.  Agreeing with the king that he had made the decision based on his standards did not lessen his guilt.  Abimelech’s responses had been from man’s perspective.  He was the one who had set the standards and made the rules by which he could make any decision.   

God then let him know that it was He, not Abimelech, who had kept Sarah safe from any advances the king may have made toward her. God had stopped him from sinful desires or even allowing him to touch her.  It was very important for Sarah to remain pure to maintain the legitimacy of the promised baby to born to her. There had to be no question that the boy would be Abraham’s son and no other man.

1. What did God indicate about Abimelech?
2. Who was actually in charge of the situation?
3. Why did God protect Sarah from Abimelech?
4. What was important about the purity of Sarah?

Genesis 20:7

To show that he was a man of integrity, Abimelech was to return Sarah to her rightful husband.  Then for the first time God indicated that Abraham held the status of prophet.  As a prophet he would pray for Abimelech that he might live.  To disobey God would surely bring death to him and everyone who were part of his family.  There may have been another reason to have Abraham pray for him.  By doing so Abraham would also have to confess his part in that whole episode that had put the future and his wife in jeopardy. 

1. How could Abimelech show that he believed the words of God?
2. Why would Abraham now be called a prophet by God?
3. How does his behavior match up with your picture of a prophet?
4. What kind of witness was Abraham to that pagan king?
5. Why did God indicate that Abraham was to pray for Abimelech to bring about his rescue from the consequences of his wrongdoing by taking Sarah?
6. What lesson was Abraham to learn from this situation where he was called on to pray for another man who could have potentially defiled his wife?

Genesis 20:8

Abimelech immediately responded to God’s command by calling all of his servants together to share all God had said.  As one would expect when they heard his words great fear fell upon them.  This would indicate that they understood that they had committed a great sin against God.  If they had known in their own minds that they were innocent there would have been no fear of God’s judgment on them.

1. Why did Abimelech immediately call his servants together?
2. How did Abimelech’s action show that he took word of God seriously?
3. Why did his servants become fearful?
4. Why did they not just disregard the words of Abimelech?
5. What does the fear show about their part in the actions of Abimelech?

Genesis 20:9-10

After making sure that his servants would not do anything that would bring judgment on he and his nation, Abimelech then called for Abraham.  He wanted to know why Abraham was willing to jeopardize his whole nation.  His first question was, “What have you done to us?”  Then, he asked, what had the people done to him to cause him to bring the sin upon them that cause them to be under God’s wrath?  Finally, he wanted to know if Abraham had experienced any problems with the way he had been treated.

1. What did Abimelech want to hear from Abraham?
2. If you had been in the same situation, what would you have asked of Abraham?
3. How did Abimelech view himself and his people? In what ways was it legitimate?
4. In what ways did his questions reflect a victim’s mentality?
5. In what ways was he as guilty as Abraham?

Genesis 20:11-13

Abraham’s response can be summed up in one word, self-preservation.  First he told that he was afraid of what the people might do to him.  Then he went on to share had he used his wife for the self-serving purpose of remaining safe. What he actually said was the truth, she was indeed his half-sister, but the fact remained that he used that relationship because of his lack of faith.

1. What do you think of Abraham’s response?
2. What does it show about his faith?
3. What does it show of his regard for Sarah?
4. How would you feel if someone used you like he did his wife?
5. If you were an Abimelech, what would your thoughts be about Abraham’s God?

Genesis 20:14-15

Abraham was treated with respect out of the fear that Abimelech had of God.  He would have been afraid to have done anything different.  Underlying all of this was the protection of God for Abraham and Sarah.  His plan for mankind was not going to thawrted by the bad decisions of that couple.

Ambimelech did not send him away empty handed but actually increased Abraham’s wealth by giving him sheep, oxen and more servants.  He even allowed him, unlike the Egyptians, to remain in the land.  More importantly for both men, Sarah was returned to Abraham as God had commanded.

1. Why did Abimelech treat Abraham with such respect?
2. Why did he give additional people and livestock to Abraham?
3. Although mentioned last, why was it important that Sarah be returned to Abraham?
4. Why did he not chase Abraham out of the land as the Egyptians had done?

Genesis 20:16

Although not mentioned the gift of one thousand pieces of silver to Abraham had a two-fold purpose.  First, it would be a reminder to Abraham of the sin he had committed by putting his wife in a compromising position. Secondly, as the Bible states, it was for the vindication of Sarah. If there was to be a victim in that whole incident it would have been she.  She really had no choice in the matter because she was under the rule of her husband and then became Abimelech’s wife not by her choice.  She was, in the mind of Abimelech, was exonerated from any shame by the payment to her husband. Notice that Sarah did not receive the money, but it did purchase her release from any guilt.

1. Why did Ambimelech give Abraham one thousand pieces of silver?
2. In what ways was Sarah the only victim in that whole incident?
3. What did this do for Sarah?
4. In what way does this symbolize what Christ has done for us?

 

 

Genesis 20:17-18

As God had directed, Abraham prayed for Abimelech and his household.  While Sarah was in his harem neither his wife nor his maids were able to have children.  Once Abraham prayed for them they were healed and could again have children.

1. Why was it necessary for Abraham to pray for the household of Abimelech?
2. How did that act remind Abraham of his part in what was occurring in the household?
3. When does prayer work?
4. Why was his prayer effective?
5. What type of prayer is this and what does it show us about that type of prayer?

You-

1. Before making any move you need to make sure that it is one that God will approve.  If God is silent the best advice is don’t do it.
2. Remember that any decision you make will have an impact on others.
3. Remember your lifestyle does influence the way others view God.
4. When praying for others, make sure that you have first confessed your own sins first, then make intercession for them.

We-

Like every other time in history we have our own set of issues with which we must deal.  Sadly, the church as a whole has not held true to the teachings of the Scripture.  Today there seems to be a greater attack on the Word of God than ever before.  Smaller and smaller percentages of people in many countries who attend churches keep dwindling. 

In the midst of all of this conflict our mandate to serve Christ faithfully has never changed.  We are to be a body who has decided to never compromise with the world. It is so easy to give into the pressures to accept a liberal theology which allows many variant lifestyles.  God’s Word is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Unlike Abraham in the lesson today, if we remain faithful to the truth our witness to the world will be effective.  The world is looking in on us.  Let us make sure that what they see in our behavior is Christ-like in every aspect of the church’s life.  The standards are high but so is the reward if we reach people with the saving grace of God’s Word.

 

Additional Notes:

BL- Once again as he had done in Egypt, Abraham repeated his previous sin by moving out of the land God promised him.  In the Negev region, Abraham was no longer sure of God’s protection and felt afraid, so he passed Sarah off once again as his sister.  Sure enough, the local king took a shine to her (although she was pregnant and 90–now, THAT’S a miracle!) and procured her for his harem. However, God protected Sarah (and the baby she was carrying by

1. sending Abimelech a warning in a dream
2. and temporarily preventing Abimelech and his wives from having children (20:17-18).

When Abimelech confronts Abraham, Abraham tells him in v. 11 that he assumed there was no fear of God in Abimelech’s country.  How often do we use an equally lame excuse for not bearing witness of Christ’s love in our neighborhood, workplace or other places we go.  We assume God could not possibly be there with us and so we are fearful to speak of Him.  However, this lesson shows us that God IS with us, wherever we go, even when we defy His will.  Rather than chastising us directly for doubting Him, He will sometimes use non-Christians to do it! (Gen. 20)

UE-As surprising as it might be God had to protect Sarah a second time because of the folly of Abraham.  He allowed her to maintain her purity even when Abraham had once again was willing for a pagan to take her to be his wife.  It would have served him right if God had taken here from him and allowed her to remain as Abimelech’s wife.  God however had a greater plan for the world and permitted Abraham, though undeserved to be a part of it. (Gen. 20:1-7)

C-Abraham moved once again.  This time he settled in the land of Gerar. As had happened during his trip to Egypt this act once again put him and Sarah at risk.  His decision showed a lack of faith on the part of Abraham. (Gen.20:1-2, 11-13)

WM-As they travelled from place to place Abraham asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister.  We know that he believed in God but even after 20 some years he still was not sure that His promises that He would protect him from those who had the power to take his life.  What does it take for man to completely trust God with his very life?  That was exactly what God wanted Abraham to do. (Gen. 20:2, 5, 11-12)

E-God reveals Himself to man in many different ways.  Whether it is in a dream, as Abimelech the king of Gerar experienced, sitting a church building, walking on a street or other ways God still expects each of us to respond in obedience to Him.  Abimelech although a godless man certainly understood the message received in a dream.  He then confronted Abraham with his deception of claiming Sarah was his sister. (Gen. 20:3-18)

RT-In order for Abraham to pray for Abimelech and his people he had to look at how his actions had brought about the need for prayer.  It would cause him to take responsibility for what he had done. (Gen. 20:7)

UE-Why was it that an unbeliever like Abimelech would be the one who would have to remind the one who God had called righteous of what is right and wrong.  He said to Abraham, “You have done things to me that ought not to be done.” (Gen. 20:9)

WM-To be fearful in spite of the awesome promises like God made to Abraham is a sin. To be fearful and take your own path through life is an act of disobedience.                (Gen. 20:11)

WM-To use others for self-preservation is a selfish act.  It shows little or no regard for another person.  Abraham was willing to take the chance of allowing others to take Sarah as a wife for his own benefit. (Gen. 20:11-13)

RT-Abraham’s response to Abimelech’s question shows how utterly wrong he had been in judgment of the people of Gerar. (Gen. 20:11)

C-After the episode with Abimelech, king of Gebar, Abraham was advised to move away from Gerar. (Gen. 20:15)