Abimelech and Sarah

IF any of you are inclined to doubt this, [Sarah’s youthful beauty returned] and accuse me of indulging in wild imaginations, please reserve your criticism until we tell you the rest of the story. Some time after this, Abraham and Sarah made a journey to the country of Gerar (Genesis 20). I recommend that you read this chapter carefully. The king of Gerar was a man named Abimelech. Now something passing strange happens. This mighty king Abimelech of Gerar takes one look at Sarah and is so struck with her exceeding beauty that he immediately takes her as his wife. Here is the record:

“Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah” (Genesis 20:1-2).

Now what is wrong here anyway? Here is an old woman, ninety years of age, of whom we read in Genesis 18 that she is “old and well-stricken in years,” and long past the time of life of childbearing. And here is a mighty king who falls in love with this tottering old lady. The king of Gerar, who could have had the choice of all the fairest damsels in all his kingdom, falls in love with a stranger, a woman of ninety years. There is but one answer—God has done just as He had promised, He has renewed Sarah’s youth, He has returned unto her the “time of life.” She is a beautiful young woman again, possibly 25, 30 or 35; and the mighty King beholds her youthful beauty and chooses her above all others in his kingdom. How God prevented a tragedy you can read for yourselves in Genesis 20.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Studies in the Life of Abraham by M. R. De Haan (1891-1964)
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, ESV © 2016 by Crossway Bibles.
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