Faithful Writers

Genesis 20 highlights Abraham’s sojourn in Gerar, modern-day Gaza. The article explains how the name “Palestine” comes from the Greek word for “Philistia,” the ancient land of Israel’s archenemies, the Philistines.

In Genesis 20, Abraham’s fears lead him to lie about Sarah being his sister, but God intervenes directly with King Abimelech, showing that He can speak to anyone, even nonbelievers, to protect His plan.

Abraham’s faith, though genuine, was not yet fully formed, and his words before Abimelech reveal assumptions about God’s reach that feel surprisingly human.