v.1-7
1. RW-give back v.7x2
This verb is last used in ch 18 when God told them that He will return next year and Sarah will have a son. I think it is not a co-incidence and people who read this passage will know how important was Sarah in God's promise to Abraham.
Abraham lived as a sojourn in Gerar and dared not to oppose the king to protect his wife v.1-2, but God will not let this weaknesses ruin His promise.
2. Was God wrongly accused the innocent Abimelech? What did God called him "as good as dead?"
R.W.- an innocent nation v.4, a clear conscience v.5, innocent hands v.5, a clear conscience v.6
v.3b ...“You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else’s wife.”
7 But now give back the man’s wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don’t give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.”
(EBC- Abimelech was in immediate need of a warning lest he lose his innocence by his mistreatment of Abraham’s household)
3. Summary and reflection: God protects even when people who supposed to protect us fail us. He protects us in the right timing.
v.8-18
1. How did the Scripture address Sarah?
18 For the LORD had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
v.14 He also gave his wife Sarah back to him.
How did Abraham address Sarah?
v. 12 she is indeed my sister...v. 13 I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”
His motive was to protect his life
11 Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’
A husband told his wife to conceal their relationship should have known very well that others would take her away. Not caring if your wife was being taken away just to protect your own life was a way Sarah would show kindness to Abraham?!
2. About Abimelech
(EBC) The surprising outcome of God’s visit of Abimelech is that he responded immediately by rising early in the morning (v.8) and declaring his dream to his servants and then to Abraham. The last statement in v.8 shows the mood of the Philistines: “the men were very much afraid.” Like the sailors and the king of Nineveh in the Book of Jonah (1:16; 3:6–9), the Philistines responded quickly and decisively to God’s warning. Like Jonah, however, Abraham in this narrative was a reluctant prophet.
With or without the comparison of Abimelech, we see another side of Abraham. God gave His promise and covenant to a man that was very similar to us, a selfish sinful man. Without the intervention of God His covenant would not be possibly fulfilled.
Questions
1. He tried to save his own life in the expanse of losing his wife to other and that was the 2nd time. That means he had that problem consistently.
2. I got nervous and worried easily. I tried to figure out the solution and made myself restless. I need to trust God.
3. a. God saved his wife b. When he responded God spared him his life and let women in his household to bore child.
4. Yes, many unsaved friends are very nice to me and go beyond measures.
5. When I answered the receptionists at the clinic whether I have cold symptoms or not, I once did not tell them I had dripping nose and cough.
6. He responded to God and he did it quickly.
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