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. 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 who belong to you will die.” (Genesis 20:6, 7)
I grew up among siblings who were very clever with words.
In fact it was really our older sister who could catch people out by the deliberate selection of words she used. For example, if you asked her to “pass the salt”, she would go past the salt on your behalf. On a technicality she has done exactly what you asked her to do.
I’m not sure if my sister took tips from Abraham, but for the second time, here in chapter 20 is the man of faith, the man of the promise, getting caught up in using a technicality out of fear for his life. Once more he’s with a foreign ruler – Abimelek, once more he fears for his life in case they find out who his wife is, once more he seeks to protect himself by asking Sarah to apply the ‘sister’ term. Once more Sarah is picked up by the foreign king in order to be another lover.
What’s fascinating about this, however, is how God puts the pressure on Abimelek. Abraham is the one who plays things on a technicality, Abimelek is innocent, but it is the king who is in trouble and who needs Abraham – the prophet of God – to get him out of trouble!! Isn’t that amazing? God comes through for a guy acting out of fear and using technicalities to try save his life.
I don’t read God condoning using technicalities. There’s nothing in this to suggest that God applauds Abraham’s actions. What this affirms, particularly for Abraham, is that God protects those that are his so we need not walk in fear, we can walk by faith. As we learn to do that, we will not need to be one for the technicalities.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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