Abraham blesses Abilemech Genesis 20

A cursory reading of this story tends to make you believe it is a lesson on telling the truth, but I found so much more.  I like how the story shows us that when two humble parties meet, the Lord will help them both find the truth.

What is the first question that hits you when you read the first verses? For me it was why would Abilemech want Sara? Wasn't she near one hundred years old? The answer comes at the end of the story when we learn that the wombs of Abilemech's house had been shut. (20:18) I believe that Abilemech wanted Sara not for her beauty but for the possibility of her bearing him a child. Such irony.

Here is a timeline to help you see the movement of events in the story. They are important because it helps you understand that Abilemech's part in Abraham and Sarah's story occurs within the timeline of the year that Sara was to become pregnant with Isaac. Gen 17:21 is the promised blessing given to Abraham and Sarah before the arrival of the three wise men.

"The Fear of God is not in this place"

The Philistine people were known enemy to the Israelites. Although Abraham and Sara's story marks the beginning of the Israelite people, the fear of the unknown was still a real threat. Abraham and Sara had formed a plan to protect themselves from certain death or slavery when dealing with unknown culture. The times were tumultuous and certainly their approach was not unreasonable. For Abraham, it was about survival. In explaining his position to Abilemech, he says how he perceived that "the fear of God is not in this place." 

Abraham was entering a foreign land where he was unsure of how his traveling entourage would be received. Past experience in Egypt and certainly elsewhere had taught him that if presented as married there would be little regard for the husbands life and the wife would be kept as chattel. If however they were presented as siblings respect for the family would be considered and the siblings would find safety in the new land. The woman may still be at risk of violation or slavery but the male sibling would at least be spared from execution. To protect themselves against the unknown nature of their hosts, Abraham entrusted the help of the Lord. (consider Egypt)

"The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth"

When called to bear witness in a court of law, witnesses are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This is to ensure the clarity that the whole truth will bring and to guard against 1/2 truths (or 1/2 lies) or even embellished truths that might mislead. This civil tradition is one that helps society keep the peace.  But what about Abraham, a prophet, telling a 1/2 truth. In doing some research on this chapter, I did a google. I was surprised to discover that most people believe that Abraham told a lie in his telling of the 1/2 truth. They claim that as a prophet he knew better. I disagree. 

 God's Law 

God had promised Abraham that his seed (through Sarah) would number as the sands of the sea. As Sarah's 1/2 brother (by marriage) it was his familial responsibility to ensure her safety. As husband and wife it was their responsibility to ensure one anothers safety. There are many unjust or unsound laws that are not the best choice for every life situation.  Clearly Abraham's telling of a 1/2 truth until the whole truth about Abilmech was revealed to him was justified. One could argue that as a prophet he would be privy to needed information about his enemies. Maybe. But I say that as a prophet he acted in wisdom when he chose to protect his family from those whose heart he did not know. And he did not commit a crime of passion, of murder, or of stealing. In order to protect what God had given to him, he had withheld  all of the truth until he was assured that the people with whom he was to deal with would respect all of the truth. 

The real beauty of this story is that by not lying. (Abraham did not lie) he was able to win the friendship and trust of Abilemech who also was in need of the Lord's blessings. By not lying, Abraham was able to allow the Lord do his work and help Abilemech see the error of his actions. By having Abraham tell Abilemech only what needed to be told the Lord was able to speak to Abilemech through a dream and convince him of his mistake. In essence Abraham was able to bear witness of the Lord to Abilemech and convince him of the Lord's love for him.  This was possible because Abilemech was already humble and was seeking wisdom that would help him bring children back to his household.   The Lord was able to work through both parties that were equally humble and teach Abilemech the gospel and help him understand Abraham’s role as a prophet.

The question to consider is how might the story have ended if Abraham had told the whole truth: that he was both brother and husband to Sarah? How might have Abilemech reacted? Would he have cared that Abraham was Sarah's brother once he heard that he was her husband? How desperate was he to have a woman who could bear him a child? 

Both learned the lesson of how the Lord respects those who are obedient to him. Both received blessings because of the integrity they granted to one another.

Abilemech Received 

• A warning from the Lord 
• A dream from the Lord 
• A greater understanding of God's ways 
• The blessing of meeting a prophet of the Lord 
• A blessing from the Lord's Prophet 
• The wombs of his household opened - children were born 
• Renewed faith
• The whole truth - from the Lord - but only after his integrity had been established.
• The proof that the Lord considered him a "righteous nation"
• Opportunity to be obedient to his dream and God's instruction 
• A witness to the power of Abraham's God 
• Self Discovery as to his own integrity (true intentions)
• Oppotunity to bear witness what happened to him and the willingness to do what is right
• Confrontation with Abraham 

Abraham Received 

• His wife back 
• A friend and follower in Abilemech
• His faith renewed in the Lord's protection of him 
• Clear paternity for Isaac - no question reguarding Isaac's paternity 
• Consider that if Abilemech had taken Sarah how it would have thwarted the Lord's blessing to Abraham
• Cattle 
• The opportunity to testify and teach Abilemech
• Free rent on Abilemech's land 
• The opportunity to bless Abilemech with fertility 

I believe that this story is a good example of how the Lord loves all of his children. By giving Abilmech a chance to prove his willingness to obey, he is able to bless both nations with fertility. 

Genesis 19: 19-30 the city of Zoar.. a little one

Zoar: Means a little thing 

Have you ever been caught within the grasp of something that you knew was not good for you? Have you ever been given a second chance in life to succeed and to move forward and then all you could think of was exactly what you had just been freed from? 

Lot was given a second chance. He had been freed from his ties to the evil in Sodom. He says to the Lord, "thou hast magnified thy mercy... in saving my life." Clearly he understands his good fortune and what is about to happen. So why then does he not exercise his faith and move to the higher ground? 

What happens in verse 20 really caused me to think. Lot and his family are safe from destruction. He is free from the grasp of the sin that was consuming Sodom. It is here that he choose to push his luck and plead for what he is most comfortable for. Like an addict he can not own up to the truth that he would be alone with himself or his family, away from the city.   He must have Zoar, a little one. 

The question is what does he lose when he chooses to disobey the direction of God's servants to "escape to the mountain?" What does he lose when he purposefully chooses to fear "some evil" that might "take me?" Was he truly grateful for his being saved? Or was he only thinking selfishly (as sin causes us to do) If you consider that God's mercy and grace had just supplied him with three angels who saved him from destruction by leading him out of the city and plain, and that his faith had preserved him, why then could he not continue in faith and strength to the higher ground? 

I am considering now the many times in my life when I have been given or had to give instruction concerning how to change a situation for the better. On one occasion my initial instruction was to argue. In fact I did argue and discuss the situation with the Lord. It did not turn out as I would have first hoped. 

I am thinking now of Joseph Smith who, like Lot had not learned this lesson. He wanted what he wanted and did not want to do as he was instructed concerning the 16 pages of manuscript that he loaned to Martin Harris. It too did not turn out as he would have hoped. 

Lot was given instruction to move to higher ground. In stead of exercising faith and trust in the Lord's judgement he argued his need for his soul. Is it not a little one? my soul shall live. How often have we focused on what we could not do and not understood what the Lord knows we can do? 

After much petitioning the Lord gave in to Joseph Smith and the consequence was that the pages were lost. After much petitioning and the urgency of time, Lot's desire is "accepted," and Zoar, is not overthrown. Lot and his family are given permission to "escape thither" where they were able to watch the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah with brimstone and fire. 

What if they had gone on to higher ground? What if they had been busy putting their feet one in front of the other and had a different perspective of the destruction? How do you suppose it must have been for them to be on the same level, (the plain) as the destruction? What profit did they gain by being close to the destruction? If they had gone to higher ground would they have heard the cries or smelled the sulphur and pitch as it burned and itched their nostrils? Even if Lot was able to not turn and watch he had led his family here. What had he done to prevent their destruction? 

Lot's wife, we are told is unable to restrain her desire to watch her homeland destroyed. She turns back to the scene and is turned (literally or metaphorically it does not matter) into a pillar of stone. Why? Because of what she desired. Because of what her focus was on. 

How do we turn to stone? Is it something that comes from within? Was it anger that consumed her? Was it the willingness to forgo her family and leave them for the world she had just been led from? 

What is it like to be turned to salt? Did it happen in an instance or is this story, like many in the Bible, condensed to represent a longer period of time? Did she stew over it. Did she and Lot argue? Did her anger and loss overtake her to where she could no longer move and the sulphur and tar encapsulate her? 

What was the one little thing, the Zoar, that caused Lot's wife to turn her heart away from all that was good and allow herself to be hardened to all that God's love would bring? 

What is that Zoar in your life that God has led you away from, has given you direction for, has granted you grace and mercy for, and you have not understood. 

"look not behind thee" Genesis 19:15- 19

When you look backward what do you see? Is the picture clear? Is it reality? What are you seeking? It is one thing to look backward for needed tools or information that is necessary to live, it is another thing to look backward through lens that focus on remorse, regret, and destruction. 

If you are not looking backward, then you must be looking forward, with eyes fixed on a goal, with feet watching every step, and with energy and excitement for what your journey will bring you. 

I love history. Does looking backward mean we should not know our history? Not at all. 

Our history is an important part of our life. It is a record of who we are and where we have been. Life requires that we maintain a balance of our past and our future, by living in today.  When we become too bogged down in where we have been, or when we hold to the past with such fervor that it inhibits our ability to move toward the future, then we may be in danger of falling out of balance. We are counseled to "look not behind thee" in order to keep us on the right path. If we are looking forward we are watching our step, considering our actions. If we are looking backward we are remembering what we do not have, what we have lost. 

How does depression fit into this picture? or addition? or any bad habit? 

I believe depression comes  when we become so caught up in our own life that we selfishly linger in our past: possessions, memories, etc, and refuse to look forward - toward life. Addictions that cause us to live within the confines of a rutted cycle, never moving forward can contribute to depression. Bad habits can lead to addictions that keep us from having a fulfilling life.

Life requires energy. Life requires a new day- a goal- an opportunity to express to share adventure- to meet new acquaintance or to share positive feeling sand experience. When we are alive in the hope of all that is good or all that is God, we look forward.

V 15.... "When the morning arose".... a new day... God gives us a new chance with each new day
"the angels hastened"..... the angels quickened their activity to do good.
"arise" do not linger here in your grief ... do not be consumed in your iniquity

v. 16  And while he lingered... "  Lot and his family lingered in Sodom... in their bad habits.. in their sadness for loss of friends and family. They all held back and needed someone to "lay hold upon (his) hand" and help them. The Lord's mercy helped them do what they could not do for themselves. It moved them to a new and safe place.
v. 17.  "Look not behind thee." instruction for us all - I believe it means we are not to dwell on it to the point where it becomes a place of escape from reality and keeps us from doing what is needed to survive.

"escape thou to the mountain" ... put away your old habits of iniquity... the ones that have bound you. Put away the desires that keep you here and prevent you from moving to higher ground.

Although "escape thou to the mountain" is a literal phrase used to move Lot and his family away from the certain destruction, it also means that we have to raise our spiritual selves up to where we are safe from the lowly habits of the world. The mountain is where we may find the Lord and his goodness -the mercy of the Lord removed Lot's family to higher ground when they would were mired in habits that kept them on the lowly plain.
What could God's mercy do for me in my time of lingering? in my time of remorse or regret?
Where could God's mercy and grace take me if I would accept his leading hand?

"We will not dwell on the past nor will we shut the door on it."