The Intercession of Abraham: A Lesson in God’s Character and Our Identity
(Genesis 20:1-18)
Abraham’s Failure and Fear
Abraham’s fear and failure in this chapter are clear. Upon arriving in Gerar, he tells King Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, not his wife. This decision stemmed from fear:
“Abraham said, ‘Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife’” (Genesis 20:11).
Abraham assumed that the people of Gerar lacked reverence for God and would harm him to take Sarah. However, this assumption was false. God intervened on behalf of both Abraham and Abimelech, revealing His sovereignty and protection.
a) Leaning on Human Understanding
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Abraham leaned on his own understanding and relied on half-truths to protect himself. While Sarah was indeed his half-sister (Genesis 20:12), this was no longer her primary identity—she was his wife. By reverting to this partial truth, Abraham demonstrated fear rather than faith.
b) Living in Fear Instead of God’s Promise
Abraham’s actions reveal how fear can lead us to act contrary to God’s promises. God had already promised Abraham that He would make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:2-3) and give him a son through Sarah (Genesis 17:19). Yet, Abraham’s fear caused him to forget God’s faithfulness.
In our lives, fear often tempts us to rely on our own strategies rather than God’s word. Like Abraham, we may revert to old patterns or “dead” ways of thinking when faced with challenges.
2. God’s Grace in Abraham’s Inadequacy
Despite Abraham’s failure, God intervened to protect Sarah and uphold His covenant. God appeared to Abimelech in a dream, warning him:
“Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife” (Genesis 20:3).
Abimelech, acting in ignorance, pleaded his innocence, and God acknowledged his integrity:
“Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore, I did not let you touch her” (Genesis 20:6).
God’s actions here highlight His sovereignty and grace. Despite Abraham’s fear and deceit, God upheld His covenant and protected Sarah, ensuring the fulfillment of His promise.
3. Intercession: Abraham’s Role as God’s Prophet
God instructed Abimelech to have Abraham pray for him:
“Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live” (Genesis 20:7).
This is a remarkable moment. Abraham, despite his failure, was still considered a prophet by God. This underscores an important truth: our calling and identity in God are not nullified by our weaknesses.
a) Intercession is Rooted in God’s Character
Abraham’s intercession for Abimelech was effective not because of his own righteousness but because of God’s grace. True intercession is not about our adequacy but about God’s character and faithfulness. Paul writes:
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
b) Interceding Despite Lack
Many people, like Abraham, hesitate to pray for others in areas where they themselves experience lack. For example, those struggling with infertility may find it difficult to pray for others to conceive, reasoning, “If God hasn’t blessed me, how can He bless others through my prayers?” However, this perspective stems from an “orphan spirit” rather than the assurance of being God’s child.
Romans 8:15 assures us:
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”
As God’s children, we can confidently intercede for others, knowing that His ability to answer prayers is not limited by our circumstances.
4. God’s Perspective: Seeing Beyond Our Deficiencies
Despite Abraham’s fear and failure, God considered him a prophet. This reveals God’s incredible grace and His ability to see beyond our deficiencies. Similarly, Elijah also struggled with feelings of inadequacy. After defeating the prophets of Baal, he fled in fear, believing he was the only prophet left. However, God reminded him that He had preserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:18).
Both Abraham and Elijah illustrate how human weakness does not disqualify us from God’s purposes. Paul echoes this truth in 2 Corinthians 12:9:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
5. Lessons for Believers Today
a) Our Identity in Christ
As believers, our identity is rooted in who we are in Christ, not in our performance or circumstances. We are:
• God’s prophets: “For you can all prophesy one by one” (1 Corinthians 14:31).
• A new creation: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• Members of Christ’s Body: “We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Ephesians 5:30).
b) Interceding with Confidence
Hebrews 4:16 encourages us:
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
We can intercede for others with boldness, trusting in God’s character and promises rather than our own strength.
c) Avoiding False Assumptions
Abraham’s assumption that the people of Gerar did not fear God was false, as was Elijah’s belief that he was the only faithful prophet. These examples caution us against making assumptions based on appearances or emotions. Instead, we must seek God’s perspective through prayer and His word.
Genesis 20 reveals profound truths about intercession, identity, and the character of God. Abraham’s failure did not disqualify him from being God’s prophet or from interceding effectively for Abimelech. Similarly, our inadequacies and lack do not define us.
As God’s children, we are called to stand in the gap for others, trusting not in our ability but in God’s sufficiency. Let us remember that God’s grace is greater than our weaknesses, and His purposes are accomplished through us, even in our deficiencies.