Intervensi Allah sebagai Manifestasi Anugerah Preventif dalam Kejadian 20:1-18
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines divine intervention in Genesis 20:1–18 as a manifestation of preventive grace, particularly through God’s action in restraining Abimelech before sin was actualized. Previous studies have approached Genesis 20 from perspectives such as gender ethics, characterization, intercession, conflict resolution, and covenant, while the preventive dimension of divine grace has received limited attention. This study therefore aims to formulate the theological dimensions of preventive grace through the narrative of Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech. Employing qualitative library research with narrative and theological approaches, the study analyzes the development of the conflict, selected significant expressions, divine intervention, human moral responsibility, Sarah’s vulnerability, marital boundaries, and the continuity of the covenantal promise. The study finds that divine grace in Genesis 20 operates prior to the actualization of sin, protects vulnerable persons, preserves marital integrity, and safeguards the fulfillment of God’s promise. Preventive grace thus represents divine action that precedes and limits the realization of sin while directing human beings toward responsible moral response.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Adelman, Rachel, and Noam Zion. “Rebuke Between Abraham and Abimelech: A Model of Conflict Resolution.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 50, no. 1 (September 2, 2025): 87–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/03090892251350705.
Ademiluka, Solomon Olusola. “Genesis 2:24 as Basis for Monogamous Christian Marriage: Illustrations from Nigeria.” Journal for Semitics 29, no. 1 (July 29, 2020): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6573/7185.
Aiken-Morgan, Adrienne T. “The Influence of Social Status and Identity in a Struggle for Matriarchal Power: Genesis 16:1–15.” Review & Expositor 119, no. 3–4 (November 26, 2022): 389–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/00346373231175828.
Borca, Eusebiu. “Abraham’s Prayer for Abimelech (Gen 20) – An Old Testament Model of Prayer for One’s Neighbor.” Romanian Orthodox Old Testament Studies 12, no. 2 (December 18, 2024): 97–122. https://doi.org/10.24193/ROOTS.2024.2.7.
Daniely, Dvora Lederman. “‘And Sarah Heard It in the Tent Door’ (Genesis 18, 10): Uncovering Sarah’s Covenant.” Feminist Theology 27, no. 1 (2018): 26–42. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/09667350187891.
Dziadosz, Dariusz. “The Covenants of the Patriarchs with Foreigners at Beersheba.” The Biblical Annals 13, no. 3 (July 11, 2023): 335–65. https://doi.org/10.31743/biban.15384.
Esra, Cange, and Suryaman Lugu. “Konsep Ketetapan Allah Dalam (Kejadian 21:1-7).” Jurnal Teologi Cultivation 7, no. 2 (December 31, 2023): 61–75. https://doi.org/10.46965/jtc.v7i2.1994.
Fadli, Muhammad Rijal. “Memahami Desain Metode Penelitian Kualitatif.” HUMANIKA 21, no. 1 (April 30, 2021): 33–54. https://doi.org/10.21831/hum.v21i1.38075.
Glendenning, Cezarina. “‘Not All Roads Lead to God, but God Walks All Roads to Reach People.’” Kairos 15, no. 1 (June 16, 2021): 81–93. https://doi.org/10.32862/k.15.1.5.
Goldingay, John. Genesis: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020.
Goodson, Jacob L., and Lindsey King. “Death and Dreams in Genesis.” Journal of Scriptural Reasoning 17, no. 1 (August 1, 2018): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.61335/1551-3432.1028.
Kelly, Joseph Ryan. “Does God Command and Punish in the Garden of Eden?” Vetus Testamentum 72, no. 4–5 (December 17, 2021): 609–30. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-bja10072.
Kim, Jeong Ja. “Theological Implications of the Abrahamic Covenant and Its Application to Reformed Life Theology: Focusing on Genesis 15 and 17.” Life and Word 31, no. 3 (2021): 67–101. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33135/srlt.2021.31.3.67.
Kim, Jun. “Methods to Solve the Problems of a Childless Couple in the Old Testament: A Case Study of Seeking Abraham and Sarah’s Heir (Genesis 11:27-25:11).” Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 28, no. 1 (2022): 34–65. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24333/jkots.2022.28.1.34.
Lestari, Eni. “Divine Providence in the Joseph Narrative: A Narrative Theological Reading of Genesis 37-50.” Jurnal Ilmiah Tafsir Alkitab 3, no. 1 (April 29, 2026): 95–108. https://doi.org/10.69668/juita.v3i1.189.
Levin, Christoph. “Deuteronomy in Genesis: King Abimelech’s Obedience to the Torah (Genesis 20).” Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 37, no. 1 (January 2, 2023): 116–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/09018328.2023.2222043.
Lu, Yong. “A Theological, Ancient Hellenistic, and Psychological Look at the Dreams of Pharaoh’s Chief Cupbearer and Chief Baker (Genesis 40:5–13, 16–18).” International Journal of Dream Research 9, no. 1 (2016): 46–57. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11588/ijodr.2016.1.26646.
MacGregor, Kirk R. “Constructing a Bernard-Hubmaier Trinitarian Model of Prevenient Grace.” Pro Ecclesia: A Journal of Catholic and Evangelical Theology 29, no. 1 (February 2020): 68–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/1063851219878701.
Majewski, Marcin. “The Four Problems Which Old Testament Married Couples Grapple With.” Polonia Sacra 22, no. 4 (January 31, 2018): 169–86. https://doi.org/10.15633/ps.2636.
Pakpahan, Abraham. “Mendengar Suara Perempuan Dalam Peristiwa Bungkamnya Sarah: Studi Naratif Dialog Abram Dengan Sarai Dalam Kej. 12:10-20.” DIEGESIS: Jurnal Teologi Kharismatika 6, no. 2 (December 6, 2023): 104–14. https://doi.org/10.53547/diegesis.v6i2.485.
Park, Zion. “Sarah’s Laughter.” Theological Thought 21, no. 3 (2026): 9–31. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.35858/sinhak.2026..212.001.
Peterson, Brian Neil. Genesis: A Pentecostal Commentary. Leiden: Brill Publishing, 2022.
Quick, Laura. “Dream Accounts in the Hebrew Bible and Ancient Jewish Literature.” Currents in Biblical Research 17, no. 1 (October 10, 2018): 8–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476993X17743116.
Rachmuth, Moshe. “Tragedy, Ownership, and Hospitality in Gerar: Lessons from Social Psychology.” Biblical Theology Bulletin: Journal of Bible and Culture 54, no. 2 (May 8, 2024): 84–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461079241252672.
Spoelstra, Joshua Joel. “An Inverted Type-Scene? Setting Parameters around a Jacob Cycle Sister-Wife Story.” Old Testament Essays 34, no. 3 (2021): 681–95. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2021/v34n3a3.
Tervanotko, Hanna. “What Is Beautiful Is Good? Examining Significance of Sarah’s Beauty in The Genesis Apocryphon 20:2-9.” Advances in Ancient, Biblical, and Near Eastern Research 2, no. 1 (2022): 83–106. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35068/aabner.v2i1.877.
Thomas, Gabrielle. “The Status of Vulnerability in a Theology of the Christian Life: Gregory of Nyssa on the ‘Wound of Love’ in Conversation with Sarah Coakley.” Modern Theology 38, no. 4 (October 22, 2022): 777–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12801.
Uzukwu, Gesila. “Like Father, Like Son? The Woman as a Bargaining Object in Gen 20:1-18 and Gen 26:1-11.” Scielo South Africa 34, no. 1 (2021): 89–113. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2021/v34n1a7.
Wonkeun Oh. “A Study on the Covenant Promise to Abraham in Its Canonical Setting.” Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies 22, no. 3 (September 2016): 41–75. https://doi.org/10.24333/jkots.2016.22.3.41.
Wood, Joseph. “‘Popish Pelagianism’ or the Work of Divine Providence?” Evangelical Quarterly 93, no. 4 (December 1, 2022): 338–52. https://doi.org/10.1163/27725472-09304004.