Why did Abraham fear "there is no fear of God in this place"? Setting the Scene • Abraham travels south and settles for a time in Gerar, a Philistine region ruled by Abimelech (Genesis 20:1). • He tells the people that Sarah is his sister, not his wife. • God intervenes by warning Abimelech in a dream, preserving Sarah’s purity and Abraham’s life (Genesis 20:3–7). Abraham’s Explanation Genesis 20:11: “Abraham replied, ‘I thought, Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me on account of my wife.’” What “Fear of God” Means • Reverence that recognizes God’s authority, holiness, and right to judge (Proverbs 9:10; Job 28:28). • A moral restraint that curbs evil: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18; cf. Psalm 36:1). • Without that reverence, people feel free to violate life and marriage. Why Abraham Felt Unsafe 1. Observed godless cultures before – In Egypt, Pharaoh seized Sarah when Abraham used the same half-truth (Genesis 12:10-20). – He had just witnessed Sodom’s wickedness and judgment (Genesis 18–19). 2. Sarah’s exceptional beauty – Even at ninety, her appearance attracted rulers (Genesis 20:2). 3. Lack of covenant knowledge in Gerar – Gerar’s people did not worship Yahweh; Abraham assumed they lacked moral brakes. 4. Human tendency toward violence for gain – Without God-fear, the powerful often exploit the weak; Abraham could be killed as a disposable obstacle. God’s Protective Intervention • God appears to Abimelech in a dream: “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken” (Genesis 20:3). • Abimelech’s response shows that even pagans can recognize God’s sovereignty when confronted (Genesis 20:4-5). • God affirms His control: “It was I who kept you from sinning against Me” (Genesis 20:6). Lessons for Believers Today • A society’s reverence for God profoundly affects its treatment of life and marriage. • Past experiences of danger can tempt believers to rely on self-protective schemes instead of full honesty. • God remains faithful, overruling human sin to preserve His promises (2 Timothy 2:13). Key Takeaways • Abraham feared because he equated absence of God-fear with absence of moral restraint. • His concern was realistic in a fallen world, though his deceptive strategy was faithless. • The episode highlights both human frailty and God’s safeguarding hand over His covenant purposes. |
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