4 3 4 Through the Bible with Les Feldick Sodom and Gomorrah: Genesis 16-20

Genesis 20:1 "AND Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar." Gerar was a boarder town between Canaan and Egypt. Abraham had learned his lesson once that he was not to go into Egypt. He doesn't go into Egypt, but he gets as close as he can by sitting on the border. I call this "fence dwelling." This is a picture of some Christians. They want one foot in the world but they want one foot in The Lord's business, so they are `on the fence.' It won't work. But Abraham goes down and dwells in the border town of Gerar. Genesis 20:2a "And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, `She is my sister:...'" There are lots of interesting tidbits here. Sarah is ninety, and is still so attractive that old Abraham knew the minute these pagans saw her (and in perfect accord with the Laws of Hammurabi) they could take Sarah into the king's harem. At ninety! So again, Abraham is going to use the same ploy, "Well now, Sarah, if they come for you, don't tell them you're my wife; tell them you're my sister." He avoided a total lie as she was a half sister. The Scripture doesn't say it but according to the time element, she must be pregnant with Isaac. This is why I think Satan is going to use every opportunity to prevent his birth. Genesis 20:2b "...and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah." Well, Abraham wasn't worried for nothing. But God will intervene now, as He is intensely interested in this promised child, Isaac.