ABIMELECH AND GUILT
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT! I DIDN'T DO IT!" I remember my protests fell on deaf ears and I was made to go to my room without dinner until I confessed. My mother insisted that it was me, probably because of the lie my sister told her. I don't even remember the crime I was accused of, but I do remember vividly the confusing and frustrating feeling of being innocent and yet paying the consequences for someone else's sin. There were plenty of things I did do wrong, but that day I was INNOCENT!
I guess the king in Genesis 20 knew what it was like to bear the penalty because of someone else's sin, only the consequences for him were a little more serious than being sent to your room.
If this was a movie the REAL STAR in this SOAP OPERA SCENARIO in Genesis 20 is NOT THE BEAUTIFUL 90 YEAR OLD BEAUTY QUEEN - SARAH. It's not the BIG BUSINESS TYCOON with a LYING PROBLEM - ABRAHAM (He lies about Sarah, telling everyone she is his sister not his wife). The real hero is the UNDER-DOG who gets caught up in a LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE by mistake - ABIMELECH. Abimelech, probably thinking that he can form an alliance with Abraham who is a wealthy man, decides to take Sarah into his harem. Abimelech may be the CO-STAR in this movie but he deserves the Oscar.