Parasha Minute: Genesis / BreisheetSample

"Abraham's Lie and Avimelekh's Truth"

Travelling through unknown territory between Kadesh and Shur, Avraham (Abraham) said of Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Avimelekh took her but Adonai came to him in a dream and said, “You are about to die because you have taken someone’s wife.” A few chapters back, in Egypt, Adonai inflicted plagues on Pharaoh and his household. Again, Adonai had made Avimelkh and his household infertile on account of Sarah. He pleaded with Adonai, “Lord, will you kill even an upright nation? Did he not say, ‘She is my sister’”?

Later when Avimelkh confronted Avraham, he replied, “Because I thought ‘they don’t fear God in this place, so they will kill me to get my wife.'” Despite Avraham’s weakness and Avimelkh’s strong argument, Adonai set them straight. Reflection / Prayer: Adonai, how often we fall into Avraham’s half-truths and Avimelkh’s self-righteousness. Despite that You intervene and bring salvation. You restore us when we humble ourselves and bring healing when we repent.