The High Cost of Half-Truths
Genesis 20:1–7 (NASB95)
1Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar. 2Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.” 4Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a nation, even though blameless? 5“Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7“Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
Abraham left his long-held camp and traveled south. He entered Gerar and again told a foreign king, Abimelech, that Sarah was his sister. This was a half-truth. A half-truth is a lie. Lies harm other people, even if we believe our intentions are right.
When we do not stand in truth, we open the door to harm. Abraham’s lie did not just affect him. It endangered Sarah. It brought trouble to Abimelech and his entire household. God intervened to protect Sarah and warned Abimelech in a dream. The king was innocent, but Abraham’s lack of honesty put him and his people at risk. The lesson is straightforward: we harm others when we compromise and do not speak the truth.
There is much debate among modern Christians about the relationship between speaking the truth and ‘loving’ one's neighbor. Can this really be called love? Abraham’s actions were not loving. Love of neighbor does not involve perpetuating lies or half-truths. It does not endanger others. True love stands in truth, even when it is difficult. When we compromise, we fail to love as God commands.
God’s justice and mercy shine in this account. God warned Abimelech before he could sin. He protected the innocent. He also gave Abimelech a chance to make things right. God did not act against him for an honest mistake. Instead, He showed mercy and provided a path to restoration. God’s justice is always fair. His mercy is always available to those who turn to Him.
Verse 7 is powerful. God told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham. Then God said Abraham would pray for Abimelech so that he would live. Abraham, the one who was wronged, was asked to intercede for the one who wronged him. This is a lesson in forgiveness and restoration. God calls His people to pray for those who have hurt them. He uses the prayers of the wronged to bring healing and blessing. This is true forgiveness. It is also a picture of Christ, who prayed for those who crucified Him.
The church must reject half-truths or ideologies that conflict with the truths found in scripture. We must speak the truth in love because truth is an expression of love. When we compromise, we hurt others and weaken our witness. We can't call it love if what we teach and say puts others at risk. God calls us to stand in truth, even when it's difficult. When we are wronged for unapologetically supporting the truth, we must forgive and pray for those who have hurt us. God’s justice and mercy work hand in hand. He restores what is broken and uses our prayers as a means to forgiveness.