Called on the Carpet, Again / What Were You Thinking? Genesis 20:1-10

May the mumbling commence!

It’s humbling when we are schooled by someone that we formerly considered godless.  But it happens, and we should not ignore these lessons.  Rather, we should learn from them… or be doomed to repeat our mistakes over and over again.  Yes, Abraham did once again what Abram had done.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down between Kadesh and Shur.  While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She’s my sister.”

            So Abimelech, King of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.  But God came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, “You’re as good as dead – that woman you took, she’s a married woman.”

            Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn’t so much as touched her.  He said, “Master, would you kill an innocent man?  Didn’t he tell me, ‘She’s my sister’?  And didn’t she herself say, ‘He’s my brother’?  I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I did this.”

            God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know your intentions were pure, that’s why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one who kept you from going to bed with her.  So now give the man’s wife back to him.  He’s a prophet and will pray for you – pray for your life.  If you don’t give her back, know that it’s certain death both for you and everyone in your family.”

            Abimelech was up first thing in the morning.  He called all his house servants together and told them the whole story.  They were shocked.  Then Abimelech called in Abraham and said, “What have you done to us?  What have I ever done to you that you would bring on me and my kingdom this huge offense?  What you’ve done ought never to have been done.”

            Abimelech went on to Abraham, “Whatever were you thinking of when you did this thing?”  (Genesis 20:1-10)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 

But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." 

Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?  Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." 

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 yours will die." 

Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.  Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done."  And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?"  (Genesis 20:1-10)

Abram had wandered.  Abraham, though his name has changed, still wanders.  That fact is clouded by some of the words of Peterson.  Did Abraham plan to settle in Gerar?  I don’t think so.  In fact, Peterson sends a mixed message by then speaking of Abraham camping in Gerar.

How quickly did God intervene?  Was it the very night that Abimelech took Sarah (Peterson)?  Or was it simply one night (NIV)?  And does it matter?

I also find the difference between the NIV and Peterson’s work when the king defends himself.  Peterson’s work has it a personal defense – an innocent man.  The NIV speak of an innocent nation.  A king’s actions not only affect himself but also affects the entire nation.  This valid point is missed by Peterson.

And how did the people of Gerar respond to this deception?  Was it shock (Peterson)?  Or was it fear (NIV)?  I think it makes a huge difference because it dovetails with Abraham’s explanation that we will examine tomorrow.

The other differences are merely updates on wording that do not change the Spirit or heart of the Word.  

Abraham was being called on the carpet for his actions by a man he thought was godless.  What were you thinking!  Ouch!

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out