Genesis 20:1-7 – God’s Restraining Hand
Abraham now leaves Mamre, where he has lived almost 20 years, and travels South. Again, he lies and denies that Sarah is his wife, putting her in danger of adultery, and with God’s promise of a child by her, he should have been especially careful. Abraham has done this before and been reproved, but now he does it again. Even great Christians can fall repeatedly into the same sin.
God warns Abimelech of the great danger he is in. Even one sin can make you a dead man in God’s sight; our only hope of life is in Jesus Christ. Abimelech pleads ignorance, and God, who knows when we are honest, tells him that the only reason he didn’t sin was because God was keeping him from sin. As bad as things are in the world, they would be much worse if God removed His restraining hand. God prevents men from sin. We must give Him the glory when we don’t sin and pray that He will restrain us more.
Abimelech must return Sarah to Abraham. Once we discover our sin, we can’t continue in it, but we must take steps to set things right. Abimelech must be just and kind to Abraham because Abraham is a prophet, close to God, who can pray for him, and if he doesn’t restore Sarah, Abimelech will die.
Questions
- How does Abraham lie?
- Why didn’t Abimelech sin with Sarah?
- Who can keep us from sin?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for God’s restraining hand.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters