And it came to passe when God caused me to wander from my fathers house, that I said vnto her, This is thy kindnesse which thou shalt shew vnto me; at euery place whither wee shall come, say of me, He is my brother. Genesis 20:13 (KJV)
In this verse Abraham is speaking to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, after a series of events that took place in their interaction. To understand the context of this verse, let’s explore the broader narrative found in Genesis 20. In Genesis 20 Abraham and his wife Sarah journeyed to Gerar, a city in the land of the Philistines. Abraham had a concern about Sarah’s beauty, thinking that the people of Gerar might kill him to take her, as she was a woman of great beauty. Therefore he instructed Sarah to say that he was her brother, not her husband.
Abraham’s reasoning behind this deception can be understood in the cultural context of the time. In ancient times it was not uncommon for powerful men to take attractive women into their harems or as wives, often without the consent of the woman’s husband. By saying that Sarah was his sister Abraham hoped to protect his own life. When Abraham and Sarah arrived in Gerar, as Abraham had feared, Sarah caught the attention of Abimelech. Abimelech took Sarah into his household, intending to make her his wife. However before anything happened God appeared to Abimelech in a dream and warned him that Sarah was Abraham’s wife and that he would be punished if he did not return her.
In response to God’s warning Abimelech confronted Abraham about his deception. It is at this point, in Genesis 20:13, that Abraham explains his reasoning to Abimelech. Abraham acknowledges that God caused him to wander from his father’s house, meaning that it was due to divine providence that he found himself in Gerar, yet he also states that he presented Sarah as his sister because he feared for his life, not because he believed it was divinely directed.
The narrative does not indicate explicit divine approval of Abraham’s deception, though God’s grace and protection were evident. God intervened to prevent Sarah from being defiled and warned Abimelech for his unintentional transgression. This verse highlights the complexities of human nature, including the tendency to resort to deceptive means in times of fear or uncertainty. It also serves as a reminder that God’s plans and protection are not contingent upon our flawed actions. Despite Abraham’s mistake God remained faithful to His promises and intervened in the situation to ensure that His plan for Abraham’s descendants would continue.
Overall Genesis 20:13 provides insights into human frailty and God’s mercy and sovereignty, showcasing both the consequences of human shortcomings and God’s ability to work through imperfect individuals to fulfill His purposes.
