Genesis Chapter 20
Another word for “Half-truths” is “Deception.”
As Abraham traveled to a new settling place, they stopped in the region of Gerar for a while. Again he tells the king (King Abimelech) that Sarah is his sister which is part true because they have the same father but different mothers. But it’s a half truth because he never says they are married. His half-truth was deceptive because he purposely gave the impression that they weren’t married. The motive behind all this was that he didn’t trust God to take care of him and Sarah. Fear kept him from telling the whole truth. Fear is what led him to deceive the king.
So King Abimelech took Sarah into his home with the intent at some time to lay with her. God came to him in a dream and said, “You are as good as dead because you are with a married woman.” King Abimelech pleaded with God saying I did this with a clear conscience. Then the king confronted Abraham for his deception.
Why did Abraham not trust God. This is the second time he did this with a king and both times there were horrible consequences.
Half truths/deception is often the approach that is taken when fear falls upon us.
I pray that I can speak truth always. Which means I may have to take responsibility for wrong that I have done rather than try and make it look like I’m a perfect angel. It may also mean I may have to trust God…a LOT. GOD help me trust you and help me not repeat sin.
