Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 20:1-10 (New International Version)

¹ Abraham left Hebron and traveled to southern Canaan where he stayed awhile between Kadesh and Shur. When he moved to Gerar,² he told people that his wife Sarah was his sister. Abimelech king of Gerar heard this, so he sent some servants to take her.³ But one night God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and said, “You will die. The woman you took is married.”

⁴ But Abimelech had not gone near Sarah, so he said, “Lord, would you destroy an innocent nation?⁵ Abraham himself told me, ‘This woman is my sister,’ and she also said, ‘He is my brother.’ I am innocent. I did not know I was doing anything wrong.”

⁶ Then God said to Abimelech in the dream, “Yes, I know you did not realize what you were doing. So I did not allow you to sin against me and touch her.⁷ Give Abraham his wife back. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will not die. But if you do not give Sarah back, you and all your family will surely die.”

⁸ So early the next morning, Abimelech called all his officers and told them everything that had happened in the dream. They were very afraid.⁹ Then Abimelech called Abraham to him and said, “What have you done to us? What wrong did I do against you? Why did you bring this trouble to my kingdom? You should not have done these things to me.¹⁰ What were you thinking that caused you to do this?”

This is one of the (hi)stories of Abraham telling someone that his wife Sarah was not his wife but his sister. Abraham always did this because he felt someone would want Sarah for their own wife and would kill Abraham to have her. These were obviously not Abraham’s best moments of faith and courage. I mean, Abraham was giving his wife away to save his own life. Sarah could fend for herself.

So here is this King Abimelech. He is not in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,  i.e., he is not one of God’s chosen to carry the message of the LORD to the world. Note, however, a few things about Abimelech:

• He did not take Sarah until Abraham said Sarah was his sister
• He recognized God speaking to him in a dream
• He called on the Lord proclaiming his innocence
• He listened to God in a dream and obeyed God
• He knew it was wrong to take another man’s wife
• He knew that doing wrong brought bad consequences
• He knew it was wrong to lie

I could go on about Abimelech. The main points:

Abimelech was not one of God’s chosen people

Abimelech knew much about right and wrong

Abimelech tried to live by what was right

Sometimes I think that we, i.e., the people with me, are right and are the only ones who know right from wrong. How could I be further wrong? God, remove this arrogance from my life. Help me to understand that you speak  to everyone and that truly the heavens declare your glory for all to see.

I don’t know how this all works in the end. I don’t know the state of salvation of natives living in isolation who have never seen a Bible and have never heard the name Jesus. I believe, however, that God provides them a way to know right and wrong and the choice to live either way. Just look at Abimelech.