God's amazing grace and mercy are profoundly evidenced in this account of Abraham and Sarah, who deceived a pagan king, just after they were promised by God the miraculous birth of Isaac. Their deception, unwittingly perhaps to Abraham and Sarah but clearly a scheme of Satan, threatened the fulfilment of God's promise. However, God providentially thwarted Satan's scheme and Isaac was born as God decreed.

1. An expositional study taught by
Harry Morgan

2. For those of you online post your comments or ques3ons
in the “comment sec3on” on your screen. As 3me
affords they may be read to the class.

3. 1. Abraham lies to Abimelech (1–2)
2. God warns Abimelech (3-7)
3. Abimelech Rebukes Abraham (8–13)
4. Abimelech gives Grace to Abraham (14-16)
5. Abraham then prays for Abimelech (17–18)

4. 1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the
South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur,
and stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of
Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And
Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.

5. God Destroyed Sodom, Spares Lot
– Route of the messengers visiting Abraham from Mamre to Sodom
– Lot and his family flee from Sodom to Zoar

6. Gerar?
Abraham Journeys to Gehar

7. 1. Describe Abraham’s progression in faith.
How is your walk of faith like Abraham’s?
Ø Gen. 12:1-3 God calls Abram
Ø Gen.15:1-21 God renews His covenant with
Abram at Hebron and promises to give the land
between Egypt and the River Euphrates to his
descendants.
Ø Gen. 16:1-6 As his wife Sarai is barren, Abram
conceives a child by Hagar, her EgypCan slave girl.
But Sarai ill-treats Hagar and she flees south into
the desert.

8. 1. Describe Abraham’s progression in faith.
How is your walk of faith like Abraham’s?
Ø Gen. 16:7-16 The angel of the LORD meets Hagar
at a spring in the desert on the Way of Shur. He
tells her to return to Sarai. Hagar realizes
that God has spoken to her, so she calls the
place Beer Lahai Roi (‘The Well of the Living One
who sees me’). Ishmael is born in c.1842BC.
Ø Gen. 17:1-8 God renews his covenant
with Abram (‘the father is exalted) and changed his
name to Abraham (‘father of many’) as he will
become “the father of many nations” (Genesis
17:3).

9. 1. Describe Abraham’s progression in faith.
How is your walk of faith like Abraham’s?
Ø Gen. 17:9-27 Circumcision is introduced as a sign
of this covenant. Abraham's wife, Sarai, is to be
called Sarah as she will become “the mother of
many nations” (Genesis 17:16), even though she is
already ninety years old.
Ø Gen. 18:1-15 Three visitors to Abraham’s tent
at Hebron declare that God will soon bless Sarah
and she will give birth to a son within a year.

10. 2. Compare and contrast the main theme of
Genesis 19 and 20. Hint: who was
“righteous” in both chapters, and what was
the effect of their righteousness?
Genesis 19
Abraham
Genesis 20
Abimelech

11. 3. Where had Abraham and Sarah dwelt prior
to the destruc8on of Sodom, Gomorrah and
the ci8es in the plain? (18:1, 33)
Genesis 18:1 Then the
LO RD appeared to him
by the terebinth trees
of Mamre…
Genesis 18:33 So the
LO RD went His way as
soon as He had
finished speaking with
Abraham; and
Abraham returned to
his place.

12. Abraham's Well at Beersheba (Daniel Baránek)

13. 4. Why did they leave?
Genesis 19:27–28 And Abraham went early in the morning
to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 Then
he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all
the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of
the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace.

14. 4. Why did they leave?
Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the
South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in
Gerar.

15. 5. Where did Abraham and Sarah go after
witnessing the destruction of Sodom,
Gomorrah and the cities in the plain? (20:1)
What is the meaning of each of these
locations? Find on a map their locations.
Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from
there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh
and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.
South - Negev
Kadesh – “holy”, most likely Kadesh Barnea
Shur – “wall”
Gerar – “lodging-place”, Tel Haror

17. Tel Haror is generally accepted as the site of
ancient Gerar, a place mentioned on two
occasions in the patriarchal narratives. During
the Middle Bronze period (ca. 2000 to 1500
BC), Tel Haror was one of the largest cities in
southern Canaan, covering 40 acres.
h"ps://www.bibleplaces.com/gerar/

18. The productivity of the land around Gerar is described in
Genesis 26:12. “Now Isaac sowed in that land, and
reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord
blessed him.” Three thousand years later, modern
techniques are being used to sow and reap in the area’s
fertile soil.
hGps://www.bibleplaces.com/gerar/

19. Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from
there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh
and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.
Hebron – colleague, friend, unite or alliance
South – Negev
Kadesh – “holy”, most likely Kadesh Barnea
Shur – “wall”
Gerar – “lodging-place”, Tel Haror

20. Gerar?
Abraham Journeys to Gehar
Egypt – ‫מ‬ִ‫צ‬ְ‫ר‬ַ‫ִי‬‫ם‬ (Mitzayim)
contraint; limitation
Canaan – ‫כּ‬ְ‫נ‬ַ‫ﬠ‬ַ‫ן‬ (kenǎ·ʿǎn)
frui<ul

21. 6. What is it important that Abraham remained
within the land of promise (15:18) and that
he did not cross over “the river of Egypt”?
Genesis 15:18 On the same day the LO RD
made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To
your descendants I have given this land, from
the river of Egypt to the great river, the River
Euphrates—
Find your delight in what
God has promised!

22. 7. Who was Abimelech? (20:2)
Genesis 20:2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife,
“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent
and took Sarah.
Abimelech (‘the king [God] is my father’) was
probably a royal title (cp. Abimelech Gen. 26)
Ab (short for abba) = father
Moloch = king

23. 8. What sin did Abimelech unwittingly commit?
Genesis 20:2–3 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife,
“She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent
and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a
dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a
dead man because of the woman whom you have
taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
‫ל‬ָ‫ק‬ַ‫ח‬ (lā·qǎḥ) – grasp, take hold of, i.e., grasp an
object with the hand (cf. 19:15)

24. Wedding Vows
‫ל‬ָ‫ק‬ַ‫ח‬ (lā·qǎḥ) – grasp, take hold
of, i.e., grasp an object with the
hand
“Will you take
this woman…”

25. 9. What error did Abraham make previously
with the Pharaoh of Egypt (12:10-20) that he
repeats with Abimelech (20:2)?
Genesis 12:11–18 And it came to pass, when he was
close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife,
“Indeed I know that you are a woman of beauJful
countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the
EgypJans see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’;
and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13
Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with
me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

26. 9. What error did Abraham make previously
with the Pharaoh of Egypt (12:10-20) that he
repeats with Abimelech (20:2)?
2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is
my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent
and took Sarah.

27. 10. Why, do you think, Abraham made the
same error twice, par:cularly when his
behavior might have seriously jeopardized
the God’s promise of the Seed to be born
through Sarah? (17:20-21; 18:9-15)

29. • Pathological, a pa-ern of behavior
• Previously rewarded for lying
• Presump:on of God’s mercy & forgiveness
• Failure to grasp the nega:ve consequences of
his previous lie (i.e., Hagar and Ishmael)
• ForgeEulness of God’s past protec:on.
• Not discerning dis:nc:ons among unbelievers.
• The letdown aHer the mountaintop (Gen. 18)
Why do you repeat your sins?

31. Chapter 12
Place: Egypt
Time: Early in his walk of
faith
Lied to: Pharaoh
Abram’s response to
rebuke: Silence
Consequences: Abram
fled Egypt
Chapter 20
Place: Gerar
Time: Late in his walk of
faith
Lied to: Abimelech
Abram’s response to
rebuke: Excuses
Consequences: Abram
remained in Gerar
11. Compare the differences in Genesis 12 & 20:

32. Restraining Grace – God’s grace, through a dream,
restrained Abimelech from uninten8onal sin.
Protec/ng Grace – God’s grace protected Sarah by
preven8ng Abimelech from defiling her.
Direc/ng Grace – God’s grace instructs Abimelech
on how to save himself and his household.

33. 12. How did God intervene in Genesis 12:17
and 20:3? Why the difference?
Genesis 12:17 But the LO RD plagued Pharaoh
and his house with great plagues because of
Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a
dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you
are a dead man because of the woman whom
you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

34. 13. Who else in the scriptures received a
revelation from God through a dream?
Abimelech is the first of five pagans to receive
a divine revelation of things by a dream, and
all were warnings. The other four were Laban
(31:24), the butler and the baker (40:5), and
Pharaoh (41:1).
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2008). Ariel’s Bible commentary:
the book of Genesis (1st ed., pp. 334–335). San Antonio,
TX: Ariel Ministries.

35. 14. Why did God declare to Abimelech, “Indeed,
you are a dead man”?
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,
and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man
because of the woman whom you have taken, for
she is a man’s wife.”
‫מ‬‫וּ‬‫ת‬ (mûṯ)
μόρος (moros)
LaFn – mortalis
Hebrew –
Greek –
English – mortal, morgue

36. 14. Why did God declare to Abimelech, “Indeed,
you are a dead man”?
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,
and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man
because of the woman whom you have taken, for
she is a man’s wife.”
Mark 6:17–18 For Herod himself
had sent and laid hold of John and
bound him in prison for the sake
of Herodias, his brother Philip’s
wife; for he had married her. 18
Because John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have
your brother’s wife.”

37. 15. Why was adultery a capital offense in the
Old Testament?
Deuteronomy 22:22 “If a man is found lying
with a woman married to a husband, then both
of them shall die—the man that lay with the
woman, and the woman; so you shall put away
the evil from Israel.
Levi0cus 20:10 ‘The man who commits adultery
with another man’s wife, he who commits
adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer
and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.

38. 15. Why was adultery a capital offense in the
Old Testament?
Genesis 1:26–27 Then God said, “Let Us
make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and
over the caFle, over all the earth and over
every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth.” 27 So God created man in His own
image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them.

39. ō
ō
ō
ō
Tri-Unity
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LO RD our God,
the LO RD is one ( ‫א‬ֶ‫ח‬ָ‫ד‬ ʾě·ḥāḏ)!
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and they
shall become one ( ‫א‬ֶ‫ח‬ָ‫ד‬ ʾě·ḥāḏ)! flesh.

40. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he
said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous na<on also?
16. How much did Abimelech appear to know
about the One speaking to him in his
dream?
Genesis 18:23 And Abraham came near and said,
“Would You also destroy the righteous (ṣǎd·dîq)
with the wicked?
‫א‬ֲ‫ד‬ֹ‫נ‬ָ‫י‬ (ʾǎḏō·nāy) master, sovereign Lord
‫צ‬ַ‫דּ‬ִ‫י‬‫ק‬ (ṣǎd·dîq) righteous, just, upright, innocent

41. 17. How does Abimelech’s response (20:4-10)
differ from Pharaoh’s (12:18, 20)?
Genesis 20:14–15 Then Abimelech took sheep,
oxen, and male and female servants, and gave
them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife
to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “See, my land is
before you; dwell where it pleases you.”
Genesis 12:20 So Pharaoh commanded his men
concerning him; and they sent him away, with his
wife and all that he had.

42. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he
said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also?
18. What is the meaning of the phrase, “But
Abimelech had not come near her”? What
is this significant?
‫ק‬ָ‫ר‬ַ‫ב‬ (qā·rǎḇ) come near, approach, join together,
unite, (cf. offering a sacrifice)
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LO RD ?
At the appointed Lme I will return to you,
according to the Lme of life, and Sarah shall have a
son.”

44. 19. In what three ways did Abimelech defend
himself?
Genesis 20:4–5 But Abimelech had not come
near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a
righteous naAon also? 5 Did he not say to me,
‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said,
‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart
and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
1
2
3

45. 20. How do these three points made by
Abimelech find fulfillment in God’s three-
fold work in our salvation?
1) “Righteous” – JusBficaBon makes us righteous.
2) “Integrity of Heart” – The Holy Spirit in our heart
gives us a desire to live pleasing to the Lord.
3) “Innocence of my hands” – Forgiveness makes us
innocent removing the guilt of sin.
H. Van Dyke Parunak, www.cyber-chapel.org

46. 21. What was God’s response to Abimelech’s
defense?
Genesis 20:6–7 And God said to him in a
dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the
integrity of your heart. For I also withheld
you from sinning against Me; therefore I did
not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore,
restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet,
and he will pray for you and you shall live.
But if you do not restore her, know that you
shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

47. God knows your
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know
my heart; try me, and know my anxieties…

48. 22. What is meant by the statement God
spoke to Abimelech, “I also withheld you
from sinning against Me; therefore, I did
not let you touch her”?
6 And God said to him . . . I also withheld you
from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let
you touch her.

49. 23. If God could “withhold” Abimelech from
sinning against Him, then why didn’t He
“withhold” Adam from sinning?
• Adam was warned by God in advance
• Abimelech had no warning
• Adam transgressed knowingly
• Abimelech transgressed unwiCngly
• God absolutely could have stopped Adam
• God’s purposes are not thwarted by man’s
sin

50. 24. How did God describe Abraham to
Abimelech? (20:7) Why was this important?
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for
he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and
you shall live.
Jeremiah 27:18 But if they
are prophets, and if the word
of the LO RD is with them, let
them now make intercession
to the LO RD of hosts…

51. 24. How did God describe Abraham to
Abimelech? Why was this important?
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for
he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and
you shall live.
• God spoke to Abimelech through a dream.
• God speaks through Abraham, His prophet.

52. 24. How did God describe Abraham to
Abimelech? Why was this important?
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for
he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and
you shall live.
In the Koran Abraham (Ibrahim)
is known as one of the six great
prophets to whom God delivered
special laws.

53. 25. Why was Abimelech still at risk though he
had not “touched” Sarah?
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for
he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and
you shall live. But if you do not restore her,
know that you shall surely die, you and all
who are yours.”
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At
the appointed time I will return to you, according to
the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

54. 26. Why did Abimelech require the prayers of
Abraham? (20:7)
7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for
he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and
you shall live. But if you do not restore her,
know that you shall surely die, you and all
who are yours.”
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and
I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the
families of the earth shall be blessed.”

55. 27. What was the reac.on of Abimelech’s
cabinet to God’s revela.on?
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning,
called all his servants, and told all these things
in their hearing; and the men were very much
afraid.
‫י‬ָ‫ר‬ֵ‫א‬ (yā·rēʾ) – be afraid, be frightened,
i.e., be in a state of feeling great
distress, and deep concern of pain
or unfavorable circumstance

56. 27. Compare the tone and atmosphere of
Abimelech’s cabinet meeting (20:8) with
Lot’s meeting with his sons and sons-in-law.
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning,
called all his servants, and told all these things
in their hearing; and the men were very much
afraid.
Genesis 19:14 So Lot went out and spoke to
his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters,
and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the
LO RD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-
law he seemed to be joking.

57. 8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called
all his servants, and told all these things in their
hearing; and the men were very much afraid. 9
And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him,
“What have you done to us? How have I offended
you, that you have brought on me and on my
kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me
that ought not to be done.”
28. What questions did Abimelech ask Abraham?
1 2
Hebrew word order is reversed, “things that
ought not to be done you have done to me.”

58. 8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called
all his servants, and told all these things in their
hearing; and the men were very much afraid. 9
And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him,
“What have you done to us? How have I offended
you, that you have brought on me and on my
kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me
that ought not to be done.” 10 Then Abimelech
said to Abraham, “What did you have in view,
that you have done this thing?”
28. What questions did Abimelech ask Abraham?
1 2
3

59. 29. What is the “great sin” Abimelech speaks of?
9 And Abimelech called Abraham and said to
him, “What have you done to us? How have I
offended you, that you have brought on me
and on my kingdom a great sin?”

60. 30. If Abimelech rebuked Abraham of a “great
sin” then why didn’t God?
“…all the references to Abraham that we have in
the remainder of the Bible, never once does God
bring up this incident as if to highlight Abraham’s
failure—not in Romans, not in GalaGans, not in
Hebrews 11 (where the faith of Abraham is
discussed at great length).… Not once in all this
great survey of Abraham’s progress in the life of
faith does God refer to his past sin as if to shame
him by a remembrance of it. It was forgiven and
gone. It was forgoMen.”
Boice, J. M. (1998). Genesis: an expositional commentary (p. 653).
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

61. 31. What four arguments did Abraham use in
response to Abimelech’s rebuke?
11 And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely
the fear of God is not in this place; and they will
kill me on account of my wife. 12 But indeed she is
truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father,
but not the daughter of my mother; and she
became my wife.”
“Terah first married Yoma, by whom he had Abraham;
aJerwards he married Tehevita, by whom he had
Sarah.”
Ebn Batrick (876-950 AD, beVer known by his
ChrisXan name “Eutychus”), Annals, 910
1 2
3

62. 13 And it came to pass, when God ( ‫א‬ֱ#‫ה‬ִ‫י‬‫ם‬ ʾělō·hîm
– gods?) caused me to wander from my father’s
house, that I said to her, ‘This is your kindness
that you should do for me: in every place,
wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother.” ’ ”
4
32. What four arguments did Abraham use in
response to Abimelech’s rebuke?
‫תּ‬ָ‫ﬠ‬ָ‫ה‬ (tā·ʿāh) wander, i.e., make linear moMon as
traveling from place to place, but without one
specific, immediate goal, to go astray (cf., Psa.
119:176)

63. 33. In what three gracious and generous ways
did Abimelech bless Abraham?
14 Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male
and female servants, and gave them to
Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
15 And Abimelech said, “See, my land is before
you; dwell where it pleases you.”
1
3
2

64. 34. Why do you think Abimelech, when
speaking with Sarah, referred to Abraham
as “your brother” rather than “your
husband”?
16 Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given
your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed
this vindicates you before all who are with you
and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.

65. 16 Then to Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given
your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed
this vindicates you before all who are with you
and before everybody.” Thus she was rebuked.
‫כּ‬ֶ‫ס‬ֶ‫ף‬ (kě·sěp̄ ) silver
‫כּ‬ְ‫ס‬‫וּ‬‫ת‬ (kesûṯ) garment, clothing, cloak, covering
35. Why did Abimelech inform Sarah that he
had given Abraham “a thousand pieces of
silver”?
‫א‬ֶ‫ל‬ֶ‫ף‬ (ʾě·lěp̄ ) thousand, i.e., the largest cardinal number

66. 37. In the end what did Abraham do and how
did the LORD respond?
17 So Abraham prayed to God ( ‫א‬ֱ#‫ה‬ִ‫י‬‫ם‬ ʾělō·hîm);
and God ( ‫א‬ֱ#‫ה‬ִ‫י‬‫ם‬ ʾělō·hîm) healed Abimelech,
his wife, and his female servants. Then they
bore children; 18 for the LORD ( ‫י‬‫ה‬‫ו‬‫ה‬ yhwh) had
closed up all the wombs of the house of
Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

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