In Genesis, there is a considerable amount of deception; some of which go unpunished. Only the patriarchs are able to lie while God does nothing to condemn them. For the patriarchs, the act of lying seems to be promoted as they continue to gain riches and complete their goals from the lies they have told others, especially those in power. On the other hand, those who God does not favor lie are severely punished, especially if their lie is meant to harm sacred humans such as Abraham, Jacob, and even Eve. There is a distinct imbalance of the consequences between ordinary individuals who lie and the patriarch who lie. Why are the patriarchs able to prosper from their lies, but when individuals who are not favored by God lie, there are harsh consequences
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Because Abraham is distraught about his safety, Abraham lies to Abimelech when he declares Sarah his sister even though she is his wife. When God threatens Abimelech in a dream sequence, Abimelech asks God, “‘Lord, will you destroy an innocent person? Did [Abraham not] say to me, ‘She is my sister?’’(Genesis 20:4-5). God acknowledges that Abimelech is an innocent man; however, God threatens Abimelech of his death if he continues to pursue Sarah. God also protects Abraham by telling Abimelech that Abraham “‘is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live’” (Genesis 20:7). Despite lying to a king, God preserves Abraham’s righteous image by calling him a prophet. After the exchange, Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and his own land as a way to compensate for his transgressions against Abraham and Sarah. Not only did God nor pass judgement on Abraham for lying, Abraham also gains wealth from the lie. Moreover, Tamar, who is not considered a patriarch, also achieves her goals due to swindling. Tamar poses as a prostitute in hopes of luring in Judah during his trip to Timnah. When Judah requests her services, she asks him, “‘What will you give me, that you may come in to me?’” (Genesis 38:16). Judah offers her his signet, his cord, and his staff. Three months later, Tamar is accused of promiscuity because she would not tell anyone who is the father, and Judah sentences her to be burned to death. Tamar cleverly avoids death by claiming that “the owner of [the signet, the cord, and the staff] made [her] pregnant” (Genesis 38:25). Those same items were those given to her when Judah paid to have sex with her. Tamar escapes death, conceives twins, and leave widowhood because Judah acknowledges that she is right and his wrongdoing in not giving Shelah to her. She managed to accomplish her goals without facing any consequences from God for lying. Closing
Because Abraham is distraught about his safety, Abraham lies to Abimelech when he declares Sarah his sister even though she is his wife. When God threatens Abimelech in a dream sequence, Abimelech asks God, “‘Lord, will you destroy an innocent person? Did [Abraham not] say to me, ‘She is my sister?’’(Genesis 20:4-5). God acknowledges that Abimelech is an innocent man; however, God threatens Abimelech of his death if he continues to pursue Sarah. God also protects Abraham by telling Abimelech that Abraham “‘is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live’” (Genesis 20:7). Despite lying to a king, God preserves Abraham’s righteous image by calling him a prophet. After the exchange, Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and his own land as a way to compensate for his transgressions against Abraham and Sarah. Not only did God nor pass judgement on Abraham for lying, Abraham also gains wealth from the lie. Moreover, Tamar, who is not considered a patriarch, also achieves her goals due to swindling. Tamar poses as a prostitute in hopes of luring in Judah during his trip to Timnah. When Judah requests her services, she asks him, “‘What will you give me, that you may come in to me?’” (Genesis 38:16). Judah offers her his signet, his cord, and his staff. Three months later, Tamar is accused of promiscuity because she would not tell anyone who is the father, and Judah sentences her to be burned to death. Tamar cleverly avoids death by claiming that “the owner of [the signet, the cord, and the staff] made [her] pregnant” (Genesis 38:25). Those same items were those given to her when Judah paid to have sex with her. Tamar escapes death, conceives twins, and leave widowhood because Judah acknowledges that she is right and his wrongdoing in not giving Shelah to her. She managed to accomplish her goals without facing any consequences from God for lying. Closing