Sunday, January 13, 2019 - New Heights Christian Church, Kent, WA - Pastor Micah AdamsonTitle: Genesis - Abraham: Life in Canaan (Abraham/Abimelech/Wells)

Text: Genesis 20:1-18, 21:22-34Genesis 22:23 (NIV84)

23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.

Introduction: Genesis 12-25 is the story of Abraham learning to trust God with ups and downs along the way.

o Sometimes we see clear evidence that Abraham is trusting God, other times it’s hard to tell.o Today is another story where it’s hard to see that Abraham is trusting God.

Genesis 12 = Abraham struggled with faith in his moves between Babylon, Canaan and Egypt.o Genesis 13-15 = Abraham showed clear evidence of His faith in God’s promise in these stories in

Canaan by not trusting his ability to keep the land, amass material goods, or have a family. Genesis 16-18 = Abraham struggled again with faith leading up to Ishmael’s birth by his own power.

Interlude: Genesis 19 = God’s judgement on the Canaanites in Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 20 = Abraham struggles again with faith in Philistia, repeating his lack of faith in Egypt.

o Genesis 21-25 = Abraham’s clearest evidences of faith are in the final chapters after Isaac is born.

Genesis 20:1-2 (NIV84)1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur.

For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. Wait. Didn’t we already hear this story in Genesis 12?

o Abraham moves to a new county, the king sees how beautiful Sarah is, Abraham and Sarah lie about being married, and Sarah is taken by the king as a wife, and God has to rescue them (Gen. 12).

o We should expect God to rescue Sarah, and Abraham to leave the area with riches. There are some differences this time. Let’s watch for them and see what we can learn.

When Abraham moved to Egypt it said there was a famine In Canaan (Gen. 12:10).o Here, we don’t hear about why Abraham moved. Could be the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham moved from the east side of the land of Canaan to the west side. o Mamre was by Sodom was on the south-east side of the land of Canaan by the dead sea.o The Negev is the desert in the south-central part of the land of Canaan.o Gerar/Philistia was on the south-west side of the land of Canaan by the meditation sea (Gen. 22:24).

Abimelech = Abi (Abba/Father) + Melech (King) = Father Kingo Three different kings called “Abimelech” were known by:

Abraham (Gen. 20-21), Isaac (Gen. 26) David (1 Sam. 21:13/Ps. 34).

o Probably a title for Philistine kings, not a personal name (like Pharaoh in Egypt).o Could also be a hereditary name like “King Louis” was in France where 19 kings

had the same name between 840 and 1844 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_of_France The Philistines were not one of the nations whose land God promised to give Abraham (Gen. 15).

o The Philistines were descendants of Ham, but not through Canaan. The Philistines came from the Islands in the Mediterranean Sea.

o Bible critics point out that historical evidence shows that Philistines didn’t move to Canaan in big numbers until the time of Judges and 1-2 Samuel when they become the primary enemies of Israel.

o However, there is no reason that smaller groups of Philistines couldn’t have move into Canaan earlier during Abraham’s time. They might have even moved back out to the islands.

Like he did in Egypt, Abraham turns the liability of having a beautiful wife who men are willing to kill for, into the asset of having a beautiful sister who men are willing to become your friend for.o Abimelech is another example of a king treating Abraham as an equal and wanting to form an

alliance with him. This has been true of all the kings Abraham has met (Egypt, Sodom, Salem). This trick that Abraham and Sarah used doesn’t look like they are trusting God any more than before.

o But, before we judge Abraham too harshly and think we would have done better, remember the risk was real. Abimelech was the kind of guy who saw a woman he wanted and took her into his haram.

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Genesis 20:3-7 (NIV84)3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of

the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he

not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.” In Egypt, we didn’t hear how Pharaoh figured out that Sarah was the cause of the plagues from God.

o In Philistia, God comes to Abimelech in a dream and talks to him directly. God says that taking another man’s wife makes Abimelech guilty and deserving of death.

o Abimelech agrees that taking another man’s wife is a sin, but says that he’s innocent.o Abimelech sounds like Abraham in questioning if God will judge an innocent nation (Gen. 18).

Abimelech gives two reasons he’s innocent (and God and Moses provide a third).1. Abraham said that Sarah was his sister.2. Sarah said that Abraham was her brother.3. God prevented Abimelech from touching Sarah. - We didn’t hear this in Egypt (Gen. 12).

God agrees that Abimelech did this with a clear conscience, but still says that if he doesn’t give Sarah back to Abraham, then Abimelech and his family/country will die.o Abimelech seams to have already understood that this threat applied to his nation too (Gen. 20:4).

God also says that Abraham needs to pray for Abimelech in order for Abimelech to be saved.o Remember who God told Abraham before he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah since Abraham was

the one through whom all nations would be blessed, and Abraham prayed for Sodom? (Gen 12, 18).o God is reaffirming Abraham’s special role as the one through whom salvation will come to

Abimelech and his nation. Abraham is the first person in the Bible to be called a prophet.

o Usually prophets speak to people for God, while priests speak to God for people, but this time Abraham’s role as prophet is to speak to God for Abimelech, like a priest (Carson).

Genesis 20:8-13 (NIV84)8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had

happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.” 10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”

11 Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ” Like God’s judgement on Sodom didn’t wait, so Abimelech acted first thing in the morning.

o Not only was Abimelech concerned about God’s threat of judgment all his officials were afraid. Abimelech calls Abraham in and accusing him of doing something bad to Philistia.

o He challenges Abraham to show what Abimelech did wrong to deserve Abraham tricking him into sinning in and leading to “such great guilt” on him and his kingdom.

o Abimelech is saying that Abraham is the serpent, and Abimelech is Adam.o Abimelech gives Abraham the chance to defend himself and give a good reason for his actions.

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Abraham gives three reasons for lying to Abimelech:1. Abraham didn’t believe that anyone in Philistia feared God.

In reality, Abimelech and his officials all feared/were afraid of God’s judgement. In Abraham’s defense, he was recently living next door to Sodom who didn’t even have 10

righteous people in the city. It’s no wonder he thought no one in Canaan feared God.2. Abraham was afraid that Abimelech would kill him and take his wife.

Abraham’s fear wasn’t completely unfounded, Abimelech really did take Sarah as his wife. Abimelech returned Sarah as God commanded, but shouldn’t have been so quick to take.

3. Abraham points out that Sarah technically was his sister. There’s not defense for Abraham here. Half-truths designed to trick people, might as well be lies. Isaac told the same lie to Abimelech about his wife in Genesis 26. He learned this trick from his

dad and mom, but realized that it worked just as well even if your wife wasn’t your half-sister. Abraham also adds that this is Abraham and Sarah’s default plan. Which, doesn’t make it better.

Genesis 20:14-16 (NIV84)14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and

he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” 16 To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense

against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.” Like Pharaoh, Abimelech gave gifts to Abraham.

o Unlike Pharaoh, he didn’t kick Abraham out of his country. Abimelech is also unique in addressing both Abraham and Sarah.

o He gave Abraham sheep, cattle, and slaves, and then gave him money and talked to Sarah.o He sarcastically calls Abraham her brother.o One-thousand shekels of silver is a lot of money, considering that Abraham is going to buy a whole

cemetery for four thousand shekels of silver in Genesis 23.o This money was designed to cover the offense against Sarah and restore her honor.

The word translated vindicated could have positive or negative connotations. o It can mean “forgiven/justified”.o But, it can also mean “rebuked/judged”.

Abimelech might be saying that his payment shows that Abraham was wrong.

Genesis 20:17-18 (NIV84)17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could

have children again, 18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah. The story ends with Abraham praying to save this representative of another nation from God’s

punishment on them. o And, God answered Abraham’s prayer, which is a reminder of why God saved Lot (Gen. 19:29).

Moses didn’t add this detail until the end of the story, that no woman in Abimelech’s house could have children as punishment from God.o This is a reminder that Sarah is still barren.

Remember that God said in Gen. 18 the day before he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah that He was going to come back in a year and Abraham and Sarah would have a son.o By Abraham selling Sarah into Abimelech’s harem, Isaac’s parentage is now in question.o Is Isaac Abraham’s son or Abimelech’s son?o To answer this question, God made it so that no one in Abimelech’s house could have children.o We aren’t told how they found this out so quickly. Did they just take God’s word for it? Did some of

them have miscarriages? We don’t know. When God healed the women in Abimelech’s house, He also enabled Sarah to conceive.

o The next story in Genesis 21 is the birth of Isaac. We’ll save that story for next week. But, let’s read the end of Genesis 21 since Abraham is still living in Philistia after Isaac’s birth and

Abimelech has one more significant interaction with Abraham.

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Genesis 21:22-24 (NIV84) 22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in

everything you do. 23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.”

24 Abraham said, “I swear it.” Remember that God had promised in Genesis 12 not only to Bless Abraham, but also to bless those who

blessed Abraham and to curse those who cursed Abraham.o Abimelech believes God is the reason Abraham is blessed, and he wants in on Abraham’s blessing.o Whether or not Abimelech heard the words of this blessing, it sounds like he is invoking this clause

to be shown kindness by Abraham and God on the basis of the kindness he showed to Abraham. Abimelech also reminds Abraham that he did originally deal falsely with him when he first moved into

Philistia and he wants to make sure that Abraham and his children won’t do this again to him or his kids.o Spoiler alert: Isaac is going to do the same thing to Abimelech or his son in Genesis 12.

Abraham agrees to Abimelech’s request and accepts Abimelech as an ally by oath. They even go on to make a covenant/treaty of equals.

Genesis 21:25-32 (NIV84) 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized.

26 But Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”

27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. 28

Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”

30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.” 31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. 32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces

returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham settles his conflict with Abimelech over wells the same way that Abimelech had settled his

conflict with Abraham over Sarah: He paid him off o to prove that he was in the right.o Beer (Well) + Seba (Seven) or Sheba (Oath) = Beersheba.

Isaac repeats both the attempt to trick Abimelech, and the conflict with Abimelech over wells, before also making a covenant with Abimelech like Abraham did to let them in on God’s blessing (Gen. 26).

Genesis 21:32-34 (NIV84) 32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. Abraham is publicly calling on the name of the LORD again in Philistia like he originally did in Canaan

before and after he went to Egypt (Gen. 12, 13).o Abraham never called on God’s name in Egypt, but finally does now in Philistia.

This looks like a renewal of Abraham’s public commitment to trust in God.o Abraham’s acts of faith in Genesis 13-15 following his return to altar building after his lack of faith

in Egypt were the high point of Abraham’s demonstrations of faith in God so far. o This return to altar building in Genesis 21, leads directly into the story of Abraham’s ultimate

demonstration of faith in sacrificing Isaac in Genesis 22 that we will see in two weeks. Abraham built his first two altars in under trees (Gen 12, 13) and lived twice under tress (Gen. 14, 18).

o I had originally connected these trees with pagan altars in Canaan and suggested that Abraham might have been intentionally worshiping the true God in places were false gods used to be (Deut. 12:2).

But, Pastor Dan reminded us in two sermons over Christmas of the place of trees in Genesis 1-3 in the Garden of Eden which is a picture of the temple that extends all the way to heaven (Rev. 2, 22).o The fact that Abraham planted this tree and lived and worshiped under trees, might be a sign that

Abraham understands that by living in Canaan he is living in God’s presence in God’s Garden.

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Conclusion: What are we supposed to do with this story of Abraham’s visit to Philistia?

o Isn’t this just a repeat of the Abraham’s earlier story when he went to Egypt? Maybe we should’ve just skipped this story.

Abraham and Abimelech are closer to moral examples in this story than many other stories in Genesis.o They even both seem to have learned lessons through these stories.

Abraham could teach us:o Not to be the kind of person who lies and gets people around in you into trouble.

It doesn’t take the 10 Commandments for people to know that lying is wrong.o Don’t be the kind of person who attributes one persons’ sin to others.o Be honest and trusting and work on being the kind of person who shares your blessings with others.

Abimelech could teach us:o Not to be the kind of person who men can’t trust around their wives.

It doesn’t take the 10 Commandments for people to know that adultery is wrong.o Be the kind of person who responds quickly to make things right when you’ve done wrong.

But, is there anything deeper Moses is trying to teach Israel, and God is trying to teach us?o How do these stories relate to God’s promises made to Abraham, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus?

Abraham: With all that is positive in this story, Abraham doesn’t look like he’s doing much better at trusting God in Genesis 20 than he did when he arrived to Canaan 25 years ago in Genesis 12.o Abraham was counted righteous by being in a covenant with God, not by his own works, or even by

having perfect faith. Abraham is the ultimate example that even God’s people are saved by grace. Abimelech: And, although he returned Sarah, he’s still a polygamist and acquiring wives like property.

o Abimelech was blessed not by his own righteousness, but because he recognized his need to get in on God’s covenant with Abraham. Abimelech is an example that other nations can be saved too. I’m comforted by God’s grace shown toward Abraham and Abimelech in this story.

Any time we ask, “What does this story mean?”, we need to let scripture interpret scripture. o Paul tells us the point of Abraham’s story in Romans 3-4. o Paul doesn’t specifically address Genesis 20, but what he says about Genesis 15 and 17 applies.

Romans 3:22-24, 29-30 (NIV84)…22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no

difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus….

… 29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith…. Sampson’s parents, David, Saul, and Jonathan al used “uncircumcised” as an insult for the Philistines

(Judges 14:3, 1 Sam. 14:6, 17:26, 36, 31:4).o Being uncircumcised was the sign of being not Jewish, or of being a Gentile from other nations.

Abimelech was a Philistine who wanted in on God’s covenant with Abraham, and he was allowed in.o This is good news for us who are from other nations: we can get in on God’s promise to Abraham!

Paul says that God gives righteousness to all sinners who believe in Jesus regardless of whether they are Jews (descended from Abraham) or Gentiles (not descended from Abraham).o Paul continues this line of reasoning in the next chapter of Romans and explicitly uses Abraham as

the example of how people from all nations are saved by Jesus’ righteousness not their own.

Romans 4:1-5 (NIV84)1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham

was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [Gen. 15:6]

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. Paul identifies Abraham not as a righteous man saved by the wages of his works, but as a wicked man

saved by God’s gift of righteousness credited to him by faith as it says in Genesis 15:6. o So, not only was Abimelech not blessed for his own righteousness, even Abraham was not blessed

for his how righteousness, but because he believed God’s promise to bless him!

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Romans 4:6-8 (NIV84)6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” [Ps. 32:1-2]

Paul’s next example of a sinner who received God’s blessing by faith not works, like Abraham, is David.o David is more like Abimelech (Gen. 20) or Pharaoh (Gen. 12) in the story of David and Bathsheba (2

Sam. 11), which this Psalm may be reflecting on as David did in Psalm 51. Paul is connecting the blessing David is talking about: forgiveness/covering/not having our sin counted

against you, back to the promised blessing God gave Abraham and credited him righteous for believing.o By trusting God’s promise to bless the world through Abraham’s descendant Jesus, we receive

God’s righteousness sin Jesus as a gift!

Romans 4:9-11 (NIV84)9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that

Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them…. Paul goes out of his way to make the point that even Abraham wasn’t circumcised when he believed

God’s promise and was credited righteous before God.o Paul argues God credited Abraham righteous in Gen. 1,5 before he was circumcised in Gen. 17.

This means that God had already credited Abraham as righteous before the events of Gen. 20.o Abraham was counted righteous not by having perfect faith, but by entering into a covenant with

God by trusting that God would keep His end of the deal. I wish we had time to read the rest of Romans 4 to follow all of Paul’s argument from Genesis about how

people from all nations (like Abimelech) can get in on Abraham’s blessing through faith in Jesus.o Let me read to you just a few more verses from the second half of Romans 4.

Romans 4:16-17, 23-25 (NIV84)…16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all

Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” [Gen. 17:5] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were….

…23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Jesus died for your sin and was raised to life for to give you His righteousness.

o According to God’s word in Romans, Jesus payment for sin even covers even unrighteous Gentiles like you and I, and Abimelech and Abraham, who are credited righteous by trusting God’s promise.

Don’t just look to Abimelech and Abraham as moral examples who you can learn to copy or avoid copying in how you relate to your neighbors…o Look to them as examples of faith who knew that getting in on God’s covenant with Abraham

(fulfilled in Jesus) is the way for sinners to receive God’s blessing of being counted righteous.

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