The Strange, Strange Story of Abimelech, Abraham, and Sarah | Genesis 20:1-18 | Pastor Talk

[@abrahamNbama]

Very rare for someone to see how humorous the bible is, so instead of people going off the grid and getting judgmental, they see it in a totally different perspective!

[@tomsethomas5235]

We need to become trickier to live in this wicked world , Jesus teaches so.. It is our responsibility to save our life means don't be a fool

[@Rochelle1510]

Thank you Abba Father and Lord Jesus Christ for restoration in my marriage with Floyd my Husband

[@matthewgaulke8094]

What I'm curious about is who is Abimelech and what's his relationship to God and what was God's presence in this ancient area/culture. He's having a conversation with God as if he is already a believer/follower. It doesn't sound like he was surprised to hear from God. Then I am asking if he was already a followers of God why was Abraham afraid to be honest with him? There is an incredible amount of context these old stories lack. They lack so much context I find it almost meaningless to read them. Sure I can read them but I have no idea what's going on in these stories. When I listen to most people's commentary on these ancient stories it seems like they don't even understand them but instead insert their own desires about what they WANT them to mean and be about.

[@savannahbarrett3876]

Thanks for making this video. Was an interesting watch. Question - on top of the many other strange things here, wouldn't Sarah have been over 90, and seemingly barren, at this point (unless this isn't chronological to the rest of the narrative)? What would have been the reason for Abimelech wanting to marry her in the first place? What did she add to his household? It would seem even stranger if she came with a dowry Abraham paid. Haha not much that can be known or answered here, but all so fascinating to consider God's ultimate purpose in this. I appreciated your idea of it showing the ultimate preservation and favor of Abraham. I never considered that...

[@FPCSpiritLake]

That's a great question. Here's our two thoughts right off the top of our heads. 1) Abimelech's interest in Sarah is a clear confirmation that even at her great age she is attractive and highly desirable. Though the text doesn't tell us exactly what makes her so desirable, the fact that Abimelech is interested tells us that Abraham has indeed been blessed by his marriage to his wife. 2) Genesis often points out the ways that the Patriarchs (and Israel by extension) get the upper hand over the nations that surround them. This may be another case where we see God's blessing being desirable to those "outside" the family. Hope this is helpful. We loved that you would continue the conversation with us!

[@savannahbarrett3876]

@@FPCSpiritLake that makes tons of sense -thanks for the clarity! Love talking about this stuff. Keep up the great work.

[@abrahamNbama]

Old age of knowledge, due to having such a humorous way of approaching a king, without telling him, hey, my brother/husband wants me to bare child with you, just as I did my husband/brother and my maid servant Hagar. So it's like knowledge through insisting instead of asking, through a humorous way, instead of things not being took seriously because it wouldn't make since explaining why they wanted this.

[@abrahamNbama]

Does anyone know how Abraham knew Abimelechs servants cut off the water supply to Hagar and Ishmael after Sarah asked Abraham to make them leave? Because I am stuck and I can’t move forward until I understand how Abraham knew, but Abimelech wasn’t aware.

[@FPCSpiritLake]

Thanks for stopping by and for the great question! At first glance, it may appear that the Hagar and Ishmael story (Gen. 21:8-21) and the Abraham Abimelech story (Gen. 21:22-34) are connected since they are right next to each other. In actuality, the event between Abraham and Abimelech happened years later when Ishmael had grown up and was married (Gen. 21:20-21). So, Abraham likely didn't know about Ishmael's near death all those years ago...

[@danny-li6io]

What the heck is the difference between her being a wife or a sister in a godless place? Like they would steal and rape or marry her regardless! And how would that save Abrams life anyway? Clearly there is some bizarre historical tradition and context here that we don’t understand ?

[@FPCSpiritLake]

No doubt Danny. Scholars studying this passage note that the text is more interested in the innocence of the Philistines and their King Abimilech than Sarah's wellbeing. This clearly creates a difficulty for the modern reader who is naturally drawn to Sarah's plight. There is no way we could do justice to the many cultural, historical, and Biblical threads being woven in a text like this in our short video...

[@judibea54]

Isn't Abimelech of Gerar NOT Egypt but Philistia? or was it somehow affiliated with Egypt but not a Pharaoh?

[@katelynrose7515]

Is this the same abimelech who listed after rebekah

[@judibea54]

Apparently, Abimelech means "King", so I wondered this also if it was the same Abimelech over the conflict of waters and wells.

[@judibea54]

Who is Abimelech? Abimelech appears in several incidents in connection with Abraham and Isaac. Each of these patriarchs, fearing for his personal safety, represents his wife as his sister. Sarah's honor is saved through a dream theophany in which Abimelech's life is threatened; timely detection of the subterfuge preserves Rebekah's virtue. In both instances the king's integrity is manifest and he is righteously indignant at the deceit (Gen. 20; 26:1-11). Abimelech is also involved with both patriarchs in quarrels over wells (21:25; 26:15-16, 18-21). In both events he is accompanied by Phicol, chief of his troops (21:22, 32; 26:26), and concludes treaties (21:27-32; 26:28-31). Also, Beer-Sheba figures on each occasion (21:31; 26:33). The detailed similarities between the two stories and the resemblances of both to that of Genesis 12:10-20 have generally led critical scholars to assign Genesis 20-21 to the e source and Genesis 12 and 26 to J, regarding all three narratives as variants of a single tradition. SOURCE: www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/abimelech#google_vignette

[@SkyBlue-vn9im]

So through his faith he gave away his wife.

[@FPCSpiritLake]

There is no doubt reading an ancient text requires taking the time to understand its original meaning, yet alone, the next and just as complicated process of applying what it might mean to the community of faith today.

[@ManoloFregoso]

She’s also 90 years old

[@kjstars]

60

[@worldview730]

Why would Abimelech want to sleep with Abraham's old wife?

[@ricardozk]

She was probably very beautiful for her age and looked very young. Or they had an old woman fetish 😂

[@joycekagendo7238]

I want scripture please 🙏🥺

[@howtodoit7802]

Genesis 20

[@DSLACA]

It begins like this Abraham (Exalted Father), gives his blood (sister) to the world (there is no fear of God in this place). She is one with him but yet she is also his wife ( Jesus the son/Jesus is God). This is how you can continue reading the chapter to get better understanding. Jesus is in all the scripture

[@prashantkoshy7805]

Amazing stretch!

[@tomsethomas5235]

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 That was not deception,it is Abraham 's wisdom. But actually idea not worked