Quick Note – Genesis 20:6-7 – God’s Warning

Genesis 20:6-7 – 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.”

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, must have been very beautiful.  Even when she was 90 years old, King Abimelech still wanted her to become his wife, so when Abraham said that she was his sister, Abimelech assumed she was single and took her to be his wife.  However, being already married and someone else’s wife, this was wrong.  So to prevent Abimelech from sinning, God spoke to him in a dream.  He warned Abimelech that what he was about to do was wrong and that he would have to pay the consequence of death if he chose to approach her.  It was then that Abimelech told God, “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.”  Abimelech did not do anything wrong yet, but if he was not stopped he might have.  So God warned Abimelech to prevent him from sinning, even unintentionally.  It was then up to Abimelech whether he would continue to follow through with his plan and sin or if he would listen to God. 

Like Abimelech, sometimes we wander into sinful situations unknowingly.  It is in those moments that God intervenes to prevent us from sinning.  He will try to guard us; He will try to protect us; He will try to warn us about the consequences of falling into sin.  He will give us every opportunity to stop and to turn away.  It then becomes our decision whether we will listen.  God will not judge unfairly.  He is righteous and kind and for those who in their integrity do not want to sin but may fall into it, He will warn.  1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us that God is faithful and will provide a way of escape when temptations arise.  It is up to us to listen. 

Abimelech in this story listened.  After hearing God’s warning, he gave Sarah back to Abraham untouched.  He heeded God’s warning and did not sin.  What will you do when God warns you?