Genesis 20

Not everything it’s important. When you read the bible, don’t spend your time and energy trying to answer the unimportant questions. Chapter 20 has been the center of a couple of unimportant questions. Scholars debate the time the story takes place. Some say it happened early in the life of Abraham. Others say it happened in the order it was written. Some say it is a retelling of the same events that took place when Abraham lied to the pharaoh about Sarah been his wife. I have my opinions, but these questions are unimportant to the reason this story is included in the bible. This story is included teach us truth about righteousness.

When Abraham said Sarah was his sister, he told the literal truth. By the letter of the law he was blameless. According to the spirit of the law he was guilty. He told the truth in order to deceive. When found out and caught in his deception, Abraham blamed his deceit on fear of Abimelek’s ungodliness. Fear is a common motivation for deception.  Genesis has already shown us that Abraham had a problem with fear. Deception, even when motivated by fear shatters relationships.

Abimelek had taken Sarah, a married woman, to be his wife. By the letter of the law he had committed an act punishable by death. He had not broken the law intentionally. He had been deceived by Abraham. God recognizes his lack of unrighteous intent and protects him. God would not have been right toward Abimelek if he had let him die for an innocent act. God warned him of what was happening and gave him a chance to make things right.

This story is one of the earliest examples illustrating that righteousness is not defined by the letter of the law. By the letter of the law Abraham was innocent, and Abimelek was guilty. God looks beyond the letter of the law. God sees the intent of the heart. Relationships are not defined by the law. Relationships are maintained by the spirit of the law written on our hearts in love.