Genesis 20

The greatest sign of God's anger is to give men up to their sins (Psalm 81:12): So I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts; let them sin themselves to hell. But God has laid the bridle of restraining grace upon us: As God said to Abimelech (Genesis 20:6), I withheld you from s…

Secondly, they are blessings by their prayers. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, Genesis 20:17-18, and, God healed him and his family of barrenness. At Moses' prayer, God's judgments were taken from Egypt: Exodus 7:12, 13, 30, and his wrath appeased toward his people, Exodus 32:11,…

Seeing it is apparent in the Story, he dwelt in Egypt, Genesis 12.10. and in Gerar. Genesis 20.1. I answer: The meaning is not, that he stayed there every day of his life; but that he lived and died there, and made it the place of his residence and ordinary habitation, whereunto…

We miserable men for the most part have not grace to consider that we are always before God; and to quake and tremble at the consideration of his presence: and this makes us so often to offend God in our lives as we do. Abraham coming before Abimelech, shifting for himself, said…

Thirdly, we must be the glory of Christ, as the wife is to her husband (1 Corinthians 11:7), and that is by subjecting ourselves to Christ, and his laws. Again, if we betroth ourselves to Christ indeed, we may assure ourselves that Christ is our Christ, and that he has given him…

First, that all our actions (specially in the worship and service of God) be grounded upon the will and word of God; and not upon will-worship, or human inventions: otherwise it will be said, Who required these things at your hands? Secondly, that we perform all our actions sinc…

And thus with this buckler, he repulses all the difficulties which easily arise, as often as the promises of God do surmount our reach. I grant he sometimes threatens with condition, as he threatened Abimelec (Genesis 12:17), and Pharaoh (Genesis 20:3), and the Ninevites (Jonah…

Therefore in this denunciation there must be a condition supplied; for otherwise Hezekiah could never have moved the Lord, nor annulled his irrevocable decree neither by his prayers nor tears. But the Lord threatened him as he did Abimelech king of Gerar for taking Sarah, Abram'…

For when the woman comes into the family of the husband, she takes his name, and loses her own: inasmuch as the husband is her head: and therefore her veil is a sign of her subjection. As Abimelech said to Sara, Abraham your husband shall be the covering of your head: (Genesis 2…

The first is this, when God lays that affliction of barrenness upon the woman, he according to the phrase of Scripture, is said to shut up the womb; and when he sends the blessing of fruitfulness, he is said to open the womb. We have both (Genesis 20:18): when Abimelech had take…

Oh that this thought did run in our minds in the time of temptation, then by Gods grace we should feare to sinne, and endeavor to walke before God in all holy obedience, as his servants have done. Many are shamelesse in sinning, which comes from the want of this perswasion of Go…

Where no fear of God is, there will be no good submission to man. Abraham thought that the men of Gerar would have no respect for him or his wife, nor make conscience of common honesty, nor abstain from innocent blood, because he saw no fear of God in that place (Genesis 20:11):…

2. Though they were heathen, yet they showed what subjection is required of wives to their husbands by the very light of nature, whereby this sin is aggravated. 3. Abimelech was but a heathen man, yet his sentence concerning a woman's subjection in these words, he is to you a co…

When the trial comes, we quickly see, whence is our preservation by standing, or falling. So was it in the case of Abimelech (Genesis 20:6): I withheld you. 2. In a way of renewing grace.

Whence was this? verse 18. There is no fear of God before their eyes: Abraham surmized the men of Gerar would stick at no Sin; why so? Genesis 20:11. I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place.

Joseph is an instance (Genesis 39:9), "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Abraham could promise himself little security in a place where no fear of God was (Genesis 20:11), "I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will slay me for m…

Every answer of prayer is a new proof or fresh experience of God's love and special respect to us, it is a sign that God regards us and is mindful of us, in fact it is a sign of God's favor when he will not only hear us for ourselves, but for others also. If a man come to a king…

So I might have taken her to be my wife," etc. a severe expostulation and an upbraid (Genesis 12). And yet in (Genesis 20) Abraham is at it again, and meets with a more plain and home rebuke, and is charged with no less than sin by Abimelech (verse 9). "You (even you) have broug…

It is in the wills and power of wicked men and devils to do harm to the people of God, but the Lord will not suffer them to act that rage and malice that is in their hearts and so not to do that hurt which otherwise they could and would. So to Abimelech the Lord whispers his dis…

Secondly, an unrenewed soul may be kept from the commission of some sin; not because there is a principle of grace within him, but because of some providential constraint without him, or upon him: for it often falls out, that when men have conceived sin and are ready to execute…