Abimelech Bible Study

Abimelech Bible Study

Abraham and Abimelech in the Bible

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our Abimelech Bible study on Abraham and Abimelech in the Bible story and how it affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

Who is Abimelech Bible Study
Abraham and Abimelech in the Bible Story

Good day to share more Daily Bread! In our last few stories, we focused mainly on the life of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and now it's time to pick up where we left off in the life of Abraham and Sarah.

It happened that shortly after Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding area was destroyed by God, Abraham and Sarah left Hebron and settled in the north part of the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Abraham visited a city called Gerar and found that the people there weren't very godly and Abraham feared that they would kill him for his wife Sarah.

So, as he did once before to protect Sarah, Abraham pretended that Sarah was his sister. The king of Gerar whose name was Abimelech sent for Sarah to be brought to him.

God appeared to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, You're as good as dead because the woman that you took is a man's wife. But Abimelech hadn't made her his wife yet. He explained to God, I'm innocent, didn't he tell me she is his sister? And she told me that he is her brother.

God told Abimelech, I know that you did this in the honesty of your heart and I kept you from sinning against me, so I didn't allow you to make her your wife. Now give the man his wife back. He is a prophet and he will pray for you and you'll live. If you don't give her back, you and all your family will die.

God is so gracious. He always gives people the opportunity to choose to do the right thing.

Abimelech got up early the next morning and told all his servants what God said to him in his dream and they were all very afraid. Then he called Abraham, and said, What have you done to us? What made you do such a thing?

Abraham said, I did it because I thought, surely the fear of God isn't in this place; and they'll kill me to get my wife. And truly, she is my sister; we have the same father, but not the same mother; and I married her. And when God told me to leave my father's house I told her, Please do me this favor; wherever we go, say you are my sister.

Abimelech gave sheep and oxen and men servants and women servants to Abraham, and returned Sarah to him. He told Abraham to live anywhere in his kingdom that he pleased. Then ...

Abimelech Bible Study Summary
Abraham and Abimelech in the Bible Conclusion

What does this mean? Well first, it sounds like when Abimelech refers to Abraham as Sarah's brother instead of her husband, perhaps it was sprinkled with a tad of sarcasm. Secondly, he reveals that he has given a thousand pieces of silver to Abraham, which one might imagine was, in addition to all the animals he already gave him, was sort of a symbol of reconciliation. Many times, when one wants to apologize for something (even when it isn't entirely the fault of only one side), it is accompanied by a gift. And thirdly, maybe is more of an admonition than an observation. He says, behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other. Have you ever heard the song, "I only have eyes for you?" Abimelech may just be giving some sage advice. In the words of Matthew Henry, "she must look at no other, nor desire to be looked at by any other." Very fitting.

Abimelech Bible Study Summary
Abraham and Abimelech in the Bible Conclusion

Apparently, Abimelech had heard about when God plagued the house of Pharaoh for the same circumstances he was facing. This time the Lord closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of what happened. But when Abraham prayed to God, He healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants; and they were able to have children again.

Hurry on back and see what's next, right here at Daily Bread!

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