Why did Abraham say, "She is my sister," in Genesis 20:2? Setting the scene • Abram (now Abraham) is dwelling in the Negev, journeying toward Gerar (Genesis 20:1). • King Abimelech rules this Philistine territory. • Genesis 20:2 records: “And Abraham said about his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ So Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.” Immediate reason: fear for personal safety • Abraham believes the men of Gerar “have no fear of God” and will kill him for his wife (Genesis 20:11). • Similar concern motivated Abraham in Egypt years earlier (Genesis 12:11-13). • In cultures where rulers freely added beautiful women to their harems, a husband could be eliminated; a brother might receive gifts. • Self-preservation overrides trust in God at this moment, leading to deceptive half-truth. A half-truth, not an outright fabrication • Sarah actually is Abraham’s half-sister: “She really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother, and she became my wife” (Genesis 20:12). • God’s law forbidding half-sibling marriage (Leviticus 18:9) is centuries away; in the patriarchal era such unions were permitted and not uncommon. The deeper issue: lapse of faith • God had already promised Abraham innumerable offspring through Sarah (Genesis 17:15-19). • Protecting the promised line was God’s responsibility; Abraham’s ruse implied doubt that God would keep them alive. • Hebrews 11:8-12 later celebrates Abraham’s faith, yet Genesis records his weaknesses too, underscoring that even the faithful can stumble. God’s swift intervention • “But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, ‘You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken…’” (Genesis 20:3). • Abimelech’s innocence, combined with God’s warning, preserves Sarah’s purity and the covenant promise. • God closes every womb in Abimelech’s household (Genesis 20:17-18)—a tangible sign that He alone guards the Messianic line. Lessons for believers • God’s faithfulness is not nullified by human failure; He shields His promises even when His people falter (2 Timothy 2:13). • Fear can tempt believers to rely on half-truths, yet God calls for integrity (Psalm 15:2). • The episode magnifies grace: Abraham is still called prophet (Genesis 20:7) and friend of God (James 2:23), showing divine mercy toward repentant hearts. Summary Abraham claimed Sarah as his sister chiefly from fear of being killed, employing a culturally acceptable but faith-compromising half-truth. God intervened to protect Sarah, preserve the covenant lineage, and reveal His unwavering commitment despite Abraham’s momentary lapse. |
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