19th.: Abimelech’s Defense
After the countdown prayer with the Lord,
Abraham traveled south a little ways. (Genesis 20:1)
While there, he told the local people that Sarah, his wife, was his sister.
He lied.
He was afraid that the local people would steal Sarah (she must have been pretty, even at age 89), and kill him.
The local king, Abimelech, took a fancy toward Sarah.
Oh Oh.
God stepped in. In a dream, God told Abimelech,
“Behold you are a dead man, for the woman which you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” (Gen. 20:3).
Abimelech responded,
“Will you slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, ‘She is my sister?’
And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart, and innocency of my hands, have I done this.” (Gen. 20:4b-5).
Abimelech first appealed to a sense of justness, not just for himself, but also for his nation.
Then Abimelech took responsibility for his actions, although he prefaced his responsibility by saying that he had believed what Abraham and Sarah had said. (Gen. 20:2).
God accepted Abimelech’s passing the blame (Gen. 20:6a).
Nonetheless, God did not relent in the severity of His demand,
“… Restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. …” (Gen. 20:7).
Likewise, we can expect God to listen to our just pleas.
“As soon as they hear of hear of me, they shall obey me.” (Ps. 18:44)