Gen 20: Abraham's fear and lack of faith in God's protection again putting Sarah in danger in Gerar

Abraham shows again, his cowardice and failure to trust God and protect his wife's dignity once more. Yet again, God has to supernaturally intervene to restore his wife to him.

• v1: Abraham left Mamre, where he had resided for nearly twenty years
• v2: Yet again he sinned in denying his wife (cf 12:13) hence exposing her chastity and honour, which he ought to have protected. Godly men may not only fall into sin, but relapse through temptation and weakness of the flesh. The cure then is to "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." (Jer 3:22). His fear and cowardice is even more astonishing when we remember that only a couple of months have passed between Abraham moving to Gerar and God promising him a son.
  
• v3: God revealed Himself through a dream and warned Abimelech that he was in danger of death and sin.
• v4-5: Abimelech pleaded ignorance, for Abraham and Sarah had both lied to him about their status. He pleaded in confidence, because his conscience bore witness to his integrity, that although cheated into sin, he did not willingly nor knowingly sin against God. "if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God" (1 Jn 3:21)
• v6: God accepted Abimelech's plea, but also let him know that he was kept from sin merely by God's hand upon him. Abimelech was hence kept from doing wrong; Sarah was kept from doing and suffering wrong. We are kept pure not by our wn effort, but through God's grace and influence in our lives.
• v7: God told Abimelech to make restitution, now that he was better informed. If we entered sin through ignorance, this will not excuse our knowingly persisting in it. The consequences were set forth and made clear to him, because "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism" (Col 3:25). Just as Abraham was accessory to Abimelech's sin, Abraham was hence obliged in justice to pray for him.
• v8: Abimelech took the warning seriously and started to make amends "early the next morning", as soon as he could. He, as one truly afraid of sin and its consequences, shared this warning with all his officials, that they too would be awakened and brought to holy fear.
• v9: He called Abraham and reasoned with him. He told Abraham of the injurywrong that had been done to him, and showed his resentment of it in a calm and dignified manner. Abraham was then charged with doing something unjustifiable, in disowning his marriage, but at no time did Abimelech insult him or call him a liar.
• v10: Abraham's suspicion of Abimelech's character was a great affront to him
• v11: Abraham quite unjustifiably thought within himself that Gerar had no fear of the Lord.
• v12: He made a further excuse by making it out that Sarah was technically his sister. But to those whom he said "she is my sister" would have understood that she was his sister and not his wife. Abraham hence had the intention to deceive.
• v14-15: Despite being wronged, Abimelech showed much kindness, generosity and grace to Abraham.
• v16: The silver was not for repayment, but to show Abimelech's sincerity. When the Philistines resotred the ark after being plagued for detaining it, they too sent a present with it. The law decreed that when restitution was made something should be added to it.
• v17-18: Abimelech's kingdom was healed after Abraham prayed for him, not before. God healed Miriam, when Moses, whom she had insulted, prayed for her.