Abimelech had taken Abrahamβs wife as his own, but had done so innocently.
Sarah was a beautiful woman and Abraham, fearful for his life, had said to Abimelech:Β βShe is my sisterβ. Indeed, Sarah, also fearful, had vouched for Abrahamβs lie, telling the king: βHe is my brotherβ.
But to save the failing couple from the consequences of their own cowardice and sin, God had appeared to Abimelech, warning him that if he valued his life he would immediately return Sarah to her husband βΒ βand he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt liveβΒ (Gen. 20:7).
Can this be a correct account of what actually took place? Will God hear the prayers of guilty Abraham for innocent Abimelech? Yes, for Abimelech was a pagan who served other gods, while Abraham, with all his failure and sin, was Godβs child.
Abrahamβs prayer would, of course, be a confession of his sin and a plea that it might not be laid to the charge of innocent Abimelech, but nevertheless it was Abraham, not Abimelech, who had access to God.
This is an important lesson to learn, for many unsaved people point to the failures of believers and say: βI wouldnβt be guilty of that. IfΒ heΒ goes to heaven, IΒ certainlyΒ will get thereβ. Nevertheless, such βgoodβ people are lost, while poor sinners who have trusted Christ for salvation are saved andΒ βmade accepted in the Beloved OneβΒ (Eph. 1:6).
There is only one way to find acceptance with God; this is by faith in His Son. Our Lord said: βI amΒ the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Meβ (John 14:6), and in John 3:35,36 we read:
βThe Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.β
βBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be savedβ (Acts 16:31). source
