Several times in the Old Testament, Genesis 26:7 in particular, the husband lies and says that his wife is his sister. I know they did that to protect their wives, but that’s lying. Is the Bible saying it’s okay to lie? I’ve been confused about this for a while now.
Listen: 110.6
Let’s read this incident involving Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:6-7, “And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.” For Isaac to tell others that Rebekah was his sister was an obvious lie. Why did he tell this lie? The men’s inquiry about Rebekah shows they were interested in her because she was so beautiful. Isaac was afraid that if he told them the truth, they would kill him and take Rebekah. Is this lie justified? No, it was not. As a matter of fact, no lie is ever justified. Let’s read the words of the Lord Jesus in John 8:44 where He said to a group of unbelievers, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The devil is a liar and he is the father of lies. No instrument of Satan can be used for good purposes.
Isaac lied because he was afraid of what the men might do to him. We learn in Proverbs 29:25 that, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Isaac’s fear caught him in a trap and caused him to sin. Should we fear men? Let’s pay heed to the words of the Lord in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” When we rely solely upon the Lord and realize His constant presence, love, and power, we will not fear what any man might do to us. King David wrote in Psalms 56:3-4, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Even though Isaac feared for his very life, he was still wrong to tell a lie; he should have trusted in the Lord to take care of him.
Now, here’s a word to all of us parents. Children, more often than not, will learn behavior by the actions of their parents. Let’s read of Isaac’s parents, Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12:11-13, “And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” Then, about 25 years later, in Gerer, the same place that Isaac told his lie, we find that Abraham lied again, claiming that Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. I encourage you to read that account in Genesis 20:1-7. Surely Isaac must have known about these lies, which may have given him the false assurance that this kind of lie was acceptable because it would save his life. May we all be reminded of the instruction of God’s Word in Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” (110.6)