My husband is chatty. Sometimes, he can miss another person’s attempts to say something in the conversation. I have been known to kick him under the table when I think he needs to stop talking and just listen. I wonder if Sarah should have used this strategy when Abraham’s words got them both in a lot of trouble.
Genesis 20:1-2
Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
Sarah is brought into a king’s harem because Abraham lied and said she was his sister. His words stemmed from fear of being killed because of her beauty. He was willing to sacrifice her integrity for his well-being. Sarah was taken from Abraham without a fight, not even an explanation of the truth. Thankfully, God intervened.
Genesis 20:3-7
But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
Abraham was a prophet who lied. Abraham was a prayer warrior who made a decision to not trust God but live in fear. Abraham’s sin led to potential sin for Abimelek. Abraham allowed his beloved wife to be taken from him without a fight.
Sarah was held captive in a foreigner’s house, knowing she could be violated at any moment. She was forced to live amongst pagan worshippers who most likely did not speak her language. Sarah had no one, not even her husband, willing to help her. How lonely and frightening the situation must have been.
God saw Sarah’s abandonment and chose to rescue her. God revealed the truth to Abimelek by telling him who Sarah really was. Abraham had hidden Sarah’s true identity. The Lord spoke the truth about the relationship.
God does the same for us. Others may have called you false names, marred your identity, created a false narrative, spread lies, and enjoyed the gossip. That is not the truth. The Lord reveals to us our true identity in Him. God rescues us and validates us from the enemy’s plans and sets us again in the place of our destiny.
Genesis 20:8-13
Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. Then Abimelek called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should never be done.” And Abimelek asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?” Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
Abraham was a manipulator. He slyly told others Sarah was his sister and had her join in on the ruse, due to a technicality. He told part of the truth, while hiding the rest. All of this was to protect himself which put Sarah in danger. Abraham did nothing to free her from the situation that he himself caused. God intervened. The Lord not only rescued Sarah, he had the enemy vindicate her.
Genesis 20:14-16
Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”
I love how Abimelek spoke to Sarah. Women were not addressed at this time, much less publicly honored in such a way. But this enemy king showed respect to Sarah while humiliating Abraham calling him her “brother”. The sarcasm is evident in the exchange. And Sarah, the wife abandoned by her husband’s lie, is now validated by the enemy telling the truth. Her honor disregarded privately by Abraham was esteemed publicly by Abimelek.
Genesis 20:17-18
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again, for the Lord had kept all the women in Abimelek’s household from conceiving because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.
Sarah must have been in this difficult situation for awhile since there was enough time to realize that women were not conceiving in Abimelek’s household. Now, the family was healed. Sarah was vindicated. Abraham prospered with a thousand pieces of silver. God worked this all for good, despite what Abraham had done.
Sarah’s suffering and subsequent deliverance benefited those around her. A pagan king received a divine revelation from the Lord. Plus, Abimelek’s household was healed after prayer, testifying to the true God. A lying husband received a huge sum of money as well as freedom to settle in the land. Both her husband and an unbelieving king experienced God’s goodness in the wake of her difficult situation. Even those who harm us can benefit from God’s goodness to us. In whatever hardship you may be in, wait on the Lord. His deliverance will not only rescue you and validate you but will also be a testimony of His goodness to those around you.