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When Old Sins Return -Genesis 20


Genesis 20 records a significant moment that took place shortly after Abraham moved to Gerar. What makes this story striking is that Abraham repeats the same mistake he made 24 years earlier in Egypt (Genesis 12:10–20). The chapter unfolds in two main parts:

  1. Abraham’s deception about Sarah being his sister, and God’s protective intervention (vv. 1–7).

  2. Abimelech’s rebuke, Abraham’s explanation, and God’s gracious resolution (vv. 8–18).

Some scholars who follow the Documentary Hypothesis argue that Genesis 12 and Genesis 20 describe the same event. However, careful comparison shows they are clearly two separate situations:

  • The first incident involved Pharaoh in Egypt when Abraham was 75 years old.

  • Genesis 20 involves King Abimelech of Gerar when Abraham was 99 years old.

These accounts do not contradict but demonstrate a repeated human weakness.


Key Lessons from Genesis 20

1. Human beings cannot preserve their own lives by their own strength.

Abraham lied because he feared for his safety. But every attempt to save himself created greater danger. Our own self-protective strategies—especially those built on fear—often make things worse.

2. When we abandon truth for cleverness, we invite greater pain.

Abraham’s half-truth brought unnecessary complications for himself, Sarah, and even Abimelech’s entire household. A compromised strategy may feel smart in the moment, but it always leads to deeper trouble.

3. Leaving the place of God’s promise exposes us to tests and temptations.

Each time Abraham stepped away from the land God promised, he found himself vulnerable. The location of obedience matters. When we step out of God’s will, old patterns resurface quickly.

4. Sin is often habitual.

Abraham repeated a mistake he had made over 20 years earlier. This reminds us that past sins must be uprooted intentionally; otherwise, they return at moments of fear or stress.


Verse Highlights

20:2 — “She is my sister.”

Abraham fell into the same deception he had once used in Egypt. This shows how:

  1. Leaving the covenant land placed him in spiritual and emotional danger.

  2. A sin committed once is very likely to be repeated if it is not truly resolved.

Abimelech taking Sarah

Abimelech’s action was not primarily due to Sarah’s physical beauty at her age, but because kings of that era held absolute authority to take any woman—including travelers—to form alliances. It is likely he saw Sarah as a way to form a political partnership with the wealthy and powerful Abraham.

20:18 — “The LORD had closed the wombs of Abimelech’s household.”

God temporarily made Abimelech and his household infertile as a protective act for Sarah and to preserve the purity of the covenant line through which Isaac would be born (Genesis 17:19).

Even Abraham’s failure could not cancel God’s promise. God’s covenant rests on His faithfulness, not human perfection.


Reflection for Today

Genesis 20 reminds us that:

  • Fear often pushes us back into old patterns.

  • Truth is always safer than manipulation.

  • God protects His purposes even through our weaknesses.

  • The grace of God is stronger than our failures.

Abraham’s story shows that spiritual maturity is not the absence of mistakes but the presence of a faithful God who continues leading, correcting, and fulfilling His promises.



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