A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

into a mountain cave (Gen. 19:30). His daughters, perhaps thinking the whole world was
destroyed with Sodom, planned to repopulate the earth. They plotted to have sexual relations
with their own father to carry on the family name. After getting him drunk, each on successive
nights “lay with her father” (vv. 33, 35). Drunkenness is often associated with immoral sexual
practices in Scripture. The result of these relationships was the birth of Moab and Ammon. The
nations which developed from these two sons were later enemies of Israel. These nations were
responsible for the worst carnal seduction in the history of the nation (Baal-Peor—Num. 25) and
the cruelest expression of religious perversion (worship of Molech—Lev . 18:21).
ABRAHAM’S LAPSE OF FAITH AT GERAR
(Gen. 20:1-18)
Following the destruction of Sodom, Abraham moved his camp to Gerar (Gen. 20:1). It
was there that he would again fail to trust God and lie about his relationship to Sarah. The
incident is very similar to his previous lapse in Egypt. The coming disaster in Abraham’s life is
hinted at even in the name of Gerar, which means “the halting place.” It was probably so named
because it was a popular rest stop along the caravan route. But for Abraham, it became a halting
place in his walk with God.
Abraham lied about his relationship with Sarah because he concluded, “Surely the fear of
God is not in this place” (v. 11). However, Abimelech listened to God and obeyed Him, proving
Abraham wrong. Abraham was probably still confused over the destruction of Sodom; therefore,
he himself was having difficulty trusting God and assumed others responded the same way. It is
common for a backslidden Christian to assume others are also guilty of their own hidden sin.
As he had lied earlier to Pharaoh, so now he lied to Abimelech. Abimelech is a throne
title rather than a personal name. The title means “father-king.” Only when God confronted
Abimelech, who then confronted Abraham, did Abraham repent of what had become his
besetting sin. The existence of this sin in the life of Abraham should encourage Christians today
that they can begin their walk of faith before they gain victory over their besetting sin. It should
also be remembered, however, that the full blessing of that walk of faith, i.e., Isaac, was not
given until Abraham confessed and repented of this sin. This was the first time Abraham
repented of the sin which he had practiced even though it was the second time he was caught
engaged in it. After this repentance, there is no record of Abraham again lying concerning the
identity of Sarah.
An interesting postscript to the account is Abimelech’s response to Sarah. In releasing her
to Abraham, he still referred to him as her “brother” even though he was then aware of their
marriage (v. 16). The verse concludes, “Thus she was reproved.”
PERSPECTIVE: THE HIGH COST OF BACKSLIDING
This final chapter in the life of Lot demonstrates something of the high cost of wandering
from God’s perfect will for one’s life. In his willingness to identify with the citizens of Sodom
rather than with Abraham, the man of faith, Lot forfeited not only his intimacy with God but his
material wealth and family. Even though he maintained personal religious convictions, he was
unable to communicate those values to his wife and family.
But Lot’s backsliding may have affected more than his wife and daughters. When Abraham saw
the destruction of Sodom, he was overcome with shock and grief. He probably did not realize the
life of his nephew had been preserved. As he saw the destruction of Sodom, he may have jumped
to false conclusions about God that led to his own failure to trust God in a difficult situation. One