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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 20

“From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, ‘Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.’ Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, ‘Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.’ Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.’ So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, ‘What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.’ And Abimelech said to Abraham, ‘What did you see, that you did this thing?’ Abraham said, ‘I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, ‘He is my brother.’’Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, ‘Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.’ To Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.’ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife” (Genesis 20, ESV).

New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:18–31, ESV)

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Introduction

I can certainly understand itif when I was reading Genesis chapter 20 you thought to yourself, this sounds like familiar story — didn’t we cover this text already? Indeed, the story told in Genesis chapter 20 is very much like a story told in Genesis chapter 12 which we considered only a couple of months ago. The two stories are not identical. They differ in some important ways. But the similarities are hard to miss.

In both stories Abraham and Sarah were on the move and came into the presence of powerfull kings. In chapter 12 they sojourned down to Egypt, and here in chapter 20 we are told that they traveled down towards the Negeb, which is the dry desert region in the southern part of Canaan, and from there to the east towards Gerar. Egypt we are familiar with. Gerar, not so much. But notice that sojourning in both of these regions had the same affect upon Abraham. He began to fear that the powerful ones in the land would notice his wife and take her as their own, either because of her beauty or for the purpose political advancement, and do him harm. In each instance Abraham walked in fear and not by faith as he urged his wife to lie about her identity, saying only that she was his sister. 

Now, as you know there was some truth to that lie. Sarah really was the half sister of Abraham.  She was “the daughter of [his] father though not the daughter of [his] mother.” This sounds very strange to you and me. In fact, the law that would come to Israel through Moses forbid marriage between such close relatives. But  remember that  Abraham lived before the giving of that law and was brought up in a pagan land where marriages of this kind were not forbidden. And so there was some truth to the lie. Sarah was “indeed [Abraham’s] sister, the daughter of [his] father though not the daughter of [his] mother… (Genesis 20:12, ESV). But it was still a lie — for a half truth is in fact a lie. The full truth was that Sarah was Abraham’s wife. 

Here in Genesis 20 we learn that it was their agreed upon mode of operation to lie in this way. When Abraham was called by Abimeleck, king of Gerar, to explain the deception he said, among other things, “And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to [Sarah], ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, ‘He is my brother’” (Genesis 20:13, ESV). We know that Sarah told this lie in Egypt and Gerar, for the scriptures tell us about those events. But I wonder, how many other times did Sarah and Abraham lie given that it was their agreed upon tactic since the day they left Ur? We simply do not know. But it is possible that Sarah and Abraham told this lie many times. And it is also possible that their plan worked in every other instance. But in these two instances — in Egypt and Gerar — the same terrible thing happened. Sarah was taken into the kings harem, the king and his servants were struck with some kind of curse or plague, the LORD then appeared to the pagan kings to warn them so that  Abraham was found out and confronted by these kings, after which he was rebuked by them,  given gifts, and sent on his way. So yes, this story should sound very familiar to you. It is basically a repeat of the story told in Genesis 12:10-20. 

But here is my question. Why the repetition? Why did Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, decide to tell what is essentially the same story twice?  Stated a little bit differently, what role does this particular story play in the overall narrative of Genesis? What is its purpose?

I think there are three answers to that question. One, this story is told to promote humility within the children of Abraham. Two, this story is told to prevent pure pessimism concerning the wickedness of the nations. And three, to persuade the children of Abraham to tend to the garden of their souls, lest when they think they stand, they fall. 

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To Promote Humility Within The Children of Abraham

First of all, let us consider how this story promotes humility within the children of Abraham. 

Immagine being one of Abraham’s physical descendents. Imagine being Issac, Jacob or any one of the people of Israel who lived under Moses up until the death, burial and resurrection of the Christ. If you were one of these children of Abraham according to the flesh then it was rightly said of you that you were one of God’s chosen people. You, having descended from Abraham’s loins, were set apart in the world as distinct from the nations. You belonged to a holy people. Prophets walked amongst you. You were in a unique covenantal relationship with God. Your people were entrusted with the promises of God. From you the Christ would come. Indeed, it was a great privilege to be one of God’s chosen people in that Old Covenant age.

Paul spoke of the privileged position of the Hebrew people when he wrote, “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 9:4–5, ESV).

The Hebrew people, who descended from Abraham according to the flesh, were God’s chosen people. When I say that they were chosen, I mean of course that they were chosen according to the flesh. Their nation was set apart from the other nations and given a place of privilege in the world. They were indeed a people uniquely blessed by God. And with this privilege came the temptation to grow puffed up with pride. 

What I am saying is that the story of  Genesis 20 is meant to deter pride and to  promote humility amongst the Hebrews. How so? Well, the story demonstrates yet again that the election, calling and blessing of Abraham was not based upon something deserving within him, but purely upon the grace of God. Therefore, when the Israelite thought considered their election by God it should have produced humility, and not pride.

I say that the story demonstrates yet again that the election, calling and blessing of Abraham was not based upon something deserving within him, but purely upon the grace of God, because evidence for this is peppered throughout the Abraham story. For example, Abraham was called, not from a holy and righteous people, but out from amongst an idolatrous people. Joshua highlighted this when he spoke to the nation of Israel concerning their heritage, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods” (Joshua 24:2, ESV). What was Joshua’s point? Was it not to demonstrate to Israel that Abraham their forefather was called by the grace of God alone, and not because of something deserving within him. Abraham’s election, therefore, and Israel’s election, was not a reason to boast. To the contrary, it was a reason to stand before the LORD with humility and gratitude in the heart. Not only was Abraham chosen and called by grace, he was also preserved by the grace of God alone. Peppered throughout the history of Abraham are stories highlighting his flaws and imperfections. And this story is one of those. 

Abraham looks really bad in this story, doesn’t he? He lied yet again. He made a mess of things. And God himself had to intervene to preserve Sarah as his wife.

By the way, all of this should be considered in light of the promises made both to Abraham and Sarah that together they would have a son. That was all threatened when Sarah was taken into the kings haram. Not only was Sarah endangered, but so too was the fulfillment of the promise of God concerning a son. How in the world would Abraham and Sarah have a son now that Sarah belonged to Abimelech, king of Gerar? Perhaps you have noticed that this is a major theme in the narrative of Genesis. An offspring as promised both to Adam and to Abraham, and that offering is always being threatened. 

Notice also that when Abimelech, king of Gerar, finally confronted Abraham, Abraham ended up looking very foolish. Ironically, Abimelech appeared to me more righteous than Abraham, God’s chosen one. Verse 9: “Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, ‘What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.’”  

The point is this — Abraham  really made a mess of things when he decided, yet again, to live being driven by fear instead of living by faith. Moses did not bury this unflattering story when he wrote Genesis and delivered it to Israel. Instead he highlighted it. This he did, in part, to check pride within ethnic Israel. This he did to promote humility within the children of Abraham. It is as if Moses said this, but in the form of a narrative: “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God’” (1 Corinthians 1:18–29, ESV).

APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, I do not know of any within this congregation who are descendents of Abraham according to the flesh. In other words, I don’t know that there are any among us who are of Jewish descent. But if you have faith in Christ  — that is to say, if you have the faith of Abraham — then you are his children according to the Spirit. The scriptures are very clear concerning this, saying, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:27–29, ESV). And again the same Apostle writes, “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all [Abraham’s] offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, ‘So shall your offspring be’” (Romans 4:16–18, ESV).

If you are in Christ, you are a child of Abraham. You are his offspring, perhaps not according to the flesh, but by faith. And the scriptures also call you chosen ones, or the elect of God. Again you chosen not in a fleshly way as the Hebrew people were, being set apart in the world based upon ethnicity. But you have been chosen in a spiritual way. You have been chosen in Christ Jesus. You have been particularly selected to belong to God through faith in the Christ whom he has sent. How any Christian who claims to have the scriptures as their authority for truth can deny this, I do not know, for it is so plainly set forth in scriptures.

In John chapter 17Jesus himself prayed for a particular group of people who were given to him by the Father. He prayed for them, this is, for the elect, saying, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours” (John 17:9, ESV).

In the book of Acts we have record of the preaching of the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike. But in one place we are told that “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48, ESV). This is the doctrine of election. Many heard the gospel proclaimed that day in Antioch in Pisidia, but it was those who had been “appointed to eternal life” who believed.

Paul clearly teaches that if we are in Christ it is because we were chosen by God. In Romans chapters 8 he teaches that those in Christ were foreknown and predestined. Later in the same chapter he calls those who have faith in Christ “God’s elect”. What does it mean for someone to be “elect”? It means that they have been chosen by someone for something. In this instance it is the Christian who has been chosen by God for eternal life in Christ Jesus. How is this not clear. If what Paul mean to say was that Christians are those who have chosen God, then why does he call them the elect — that is, the chosen ones? Would he not have said that Christians are the choosing ones, or the electing ones if what he meant to emphasize was our choosing of God rather than God’s choosing of us? No friends, it was not we who first chose God, but God who chose us before the world was created. This he explains more fully in Romans 9 as discusses, and I quote, “God’s purpose of election”. 

I could set before you many, many passages from Paul’s letters to demonstrate to you that if you are in Christ it is ultimately you were chosen by God, but one of the clearest passages is found in Ephesian 1:3 and following where we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he [the Father] chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3–6, ESV).

Brothers and sisters, if you have faith in Christ it is because God chose you even before he created the heavens and earth. He knew you as his own before you were even born. He predestined you. He chose you and set you apart. When Christ prayed that priestly prayer in John 17, he prayed for you, and not the world. When died, he died for you, and not the world. No where do the scriptures ever teach that Christ shed his blood to atone for the sins of those who were not given to him. Remember how he said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11, ESV). And in another place, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, ESV) — many, and not all. And yet again remember that husbands are to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25–27, ESV). Friends, this Christ did for the church, and not for the world. 

Friends, if you love Christ it is because he first loved you. The faith that you have is a gift from him. It did not originate in your mind and heart. For “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV). Even your perseverance in Christ is by the grace. He will finish the good work that he has begun in each of his children. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:29–30, ESV). Your salvation in Christ is God’s work, not yours.  

Now, I do not doubt for a moment that you have done many things along the way. You did, in fact choose Christ. At some point you decided to turn from sin and to Christ. You, in that moment, believed upon him and called him Lord. It was you who did that, and not God for you or on your behalf. And even today you are choosing to remain in Christ. You are persevering in him. And this you must do to the end. These choices are real choices. You have made them freely and willing. But here is the deeper truth that the scriptures also reveal. All of this is a gift. It is all by God’s grace. You have turned from sin to believed upon Christ because he has freed you from your natural bondage to make you willing and able to believe. 

Abraham was chosen by the grace of God, and not because of something deserving in him. 

So too, Israel was chosen by the grace of God, and not because of something meritorious in her!

Listen to the how the LORD spoke through Ezekiel the prophet concerning Israel’s beginnings. Ezekiel 16:1: “Again the word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth are of the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. And as for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you out of compassion for you, but you were cast out on the open field, for you were abhorred, on the day that you were born. ‘And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you flourish like a plant of the field. And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment…” (Ezekiel 16:1–7, ESV)

Was Israel chosen by God? Yes they were! According to the flesh they were chosen by him. Not all in Israel had faith. In fact, many did not. They were a chosen nation. But they were chosen by God’s grace, and not because they were deserving. 

And the same is true for all who are chosen by God to have salvation in Christ Jesus. Their election is based, not upon some foreseen good in them, but in the sovereign good pleasure of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV). And in another place we read, “For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then [Paul says] it [election] depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:15–16, ESV)

Brothers and sisters, do you see that the narrative we are considering today in Genesis 20 — indeed, all that the scriptures have to say concerning the election of Abraham, Israel and those united to Christ by faith, Jew and Gentile alike — is meant to promote humility amongst the children of Abraham. If our election and calling is grounded in the grace of God alone — if it is all unconditional and unmerited favor — then there is no room for boasting. But if our election and calling is grounded in something in us — an inherent righteousness, or faith that is foreseen by God, or some other meritorious thing — then there is room for boasting.

I can make this really simple by asking you the question, why did God choose you? That he chose, elected, selected and called the one who has faith in Christ is the plain teaching off scripture. But here I ask you the question, why? And if your response begins with the words, “because I…” Then it proves that you have badly misinterpreted the scriptures, for then you would have grounds for boasting. 

And so I ask, why did God choose you? And I pray that none of you would dare say, Because God foresaw that I would believe. Or, Because God noticed that I was searching for him. Or, God saw that I was morally upright. Or, God knew that I would work hard for his kingdom. None of these answers will do, for they contradiction the plain teaching of scripture that your election “depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Indeed, if these answers were true, then you would have reason to boast before God and man, for the ground of your election and calling would then be found in you. 

But here is the truth, “God… has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3–6, ESV). And though “…you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked… and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind… God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:1–10, ESV).

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To Prevent Pure Pessimism Concerning The Wickedness Of The Nations

I have two more points to make in this sermon and only a very short time to make them. These will more like observations than fully developed points. 

Why the story of Genesis 20? One, to promote humility amongst the children of Abraham by clarifying, yet again, that Abraham was chosen and called by grace alone, and not because of something meritorious within him. And two, to prevent pure pessimism concerning the wickedness of the nations.

Do you remember the story of Genesis 19? There we  were told of the great wickedness of Sodom and Gomorra and the destruction of that place, God’s wrath having been poured out upon it. If we are not careful we might assume that all of the nations, and all of the non-believing peoples within those nations, are as wicked as them. 

The doctrine of total depravity is a very important doctrine. It recognizes that “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.”

But it would careless of us to assume that all men are equally wicked. It would also be careless for us to assume that men and women never do good, for the do! Indeed, no one is good but God alone. But men and women — even those who are not in Christ — do do good! But even this is by the mercy of God. 

Is this principle not clearly illustrated in this passage? Did not the heathen king Abimelech act more righteous than Abraham who was chosen and called by God, and made righteous through faith in the Christ who would come?

Abraham did what he did because he thought that “there [was] no fear of God at all in [that] place, and they [would] kill [him] because of [his] wife” (Genesis 20:11, ESV). In fact, it seemed as if the people of Gerar feared the LORD more than Abraham did (at least in this moment) (v. 8). Abimelech was deeply distressed over the thought of almost having committed such a “great sin”, namely the sin of taking another man’s wife as his own (v. 9). And Abimelech, after confronting Abraham, did the right thing. He “took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, ‘Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.’ To Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated’” (Genesis 20:14–16, ESV). In this instance Abimelech walked with “integrity” in his heart. His hands were innocent (v. 5).  

But why? Notice what the LORD said to Abimelech in verse 7: “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her” (Genesis 20:6, ESV).

This is why I say that this passage prevents the children of Abraham from pure pessimism concerning the wickedness of the nations, for it reveals that LORD is merciful to restrain evil in the world and to promote good even amongst those who do not worship God.

The  doctrine of common grace, as some call it, is an important compliment to the doctrine of original sin. It helps to understand it can be that we are surrounded by many who are not in Christ and yet seem to be such good people. They are not good in an ultimate sense. Nor are the good with God, for none are apart from faith in Christ. But there are “good people in the  world”, and this also is owed to the mercy of God.

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To Persuade The Children Of Abraham To Tend To The Garden of Their Souls Lest, When They Think They Stand,  They Fall 

Thirdly and lastly, the story that we encounter in Genesis 20 ought to persuade the children of Abraham to tend to the garden of their souls lest, when they think they stand, they fall. 

Here I am making only this simple observation. Think of how old Abraham and Sarah were at this point. Think of how many times the LORD had given his promises to them, and how many times he had proved himself faithful. And yet here they are making the same mistake that they had made so many years ago when they went down into Egypt. 

Application:  Bothers and sisters, we cannot grow complacent with sin. We must fight against it daily and be forever vigilant in our battle against temptation. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:6–8, ESV). “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13, ESV).

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