Genesis 20:4-5 (NKJV)

‘But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, “She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”’

God is a just judge, and this was what Abimelech invoked. Will God judge an ignorant man who did not know he was in error and who was deceitfully led into error? Abimelech – a Gentile King- was appealing to his integrity and innocence. This is a very unusual situation because God acknowledged his plea.

There is mercy when we are intentionally deceived into error, especially when we have not consummated the error. God in His mercy will keep speaking to our hearts so that we know when an error is before us even when we are not ordinarily aware. If God can warn a heathen king, then He will surely warn us when we are about to walk into a trap.

‘O Lord, we count on You to help our ears and eyes to pick up Your words of caution and warning, before we fall into the traps set before us. Amen.’