圣经是一本诚实的书。它在创世记十八和十九章，记载亚伯拉罕对神的经历达到高峰；其后在二十章，记载他的软弱。亚伯拉罕在与神有这样亲密的交通，有这样荣耀的代祷以后，你能信他会有二十章所记载的经历么？我们很难相信并领会，亚伯拉罕会显出这样的软弱。创世记二十章记载两件主要的事：隐藏的软弱和羞惭的代祷。亚伯拉罕这个属神的人，在他里面的深处隐藏着软弱。在十八章，他有荣耀的代祷；在二十章，我们看到他羞惭的代祷。
《一》向南迁移
我们先看亚伯拉罕隐藏的软弱（创二十1-16）。一节告诉我们：“亚伯拉罕从那里向南地迁去。”亚伯拉罕向南迁移，意思是他离开了希伯仑幔利橡树旁交通的立场。他应当留在希伯仑，因为在那里他与神有亲密的交通。没有甚么比这更好。他与神有亲密的交通之后不久，就离开希伯仑，向南迁移。在十七章二十一节和十八章十四节，神对亚伯拉罕说到以撒的出生，然后在二十一章，以撒出生了；这其间不会超过一年。为甚么在那一年之内，亚伯拉罕忽然离开希伯仑，向南迁移？在表号上，南边表征安逸。北边表征艰苦。南边温暖，北边寒冷，但神住在北边（诗四八2，七五6-7，结一4）。在北边艰苦，但有神的同在；在南边安逸，但没有神的同在。在创世记二十章我们看不到甚么暗示，说到神吩咐亚伯拉罕向南迁移。在这次迁移上，亚伯拉罕是凭自己行动。
亚伯拉罕也许想要有些变动，想要去度假。虽然你在安那翰享受教会生活，但有一天你感觉需要有个变动，想要南下去墨西哥市旅行。教会生活是美妙的，我们都非常享受。但有些人会有点厌倦，想要去拉斯维加斯旅行。倘若你到了拉斯维加斯，在那里遇见人问你在家里作甚么，你会发觉很难给他诚实的答覆。亚伯拉罕有两次在这样的情况下不诚实（参创十二9-12）。在十二章亚伯拉罕向南迁移，因为那地遭遇饥荒。那次饥荒给他南下埃及的借口，但在本章亚伯拉罕没有借口。他和妻子也许感到厌倦，想要度个假。他们若留在希伯仑的幔利橡树旁，亚伯拉罕就无须说谎。他说谎是由于他站错了地位。藉此我们看见，正确的立场相当重要。
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Hidden Weakness (1) – Gen. 20:1
The Bible is an honest book. In Genesis chapters18 and 19, it records Abraham’s experience of God reaching a peak; immediately following in chapter 20, it records his weakness. After Abraham had such intimate fellowship with God and such a glorious intercession, could you believe that he would have the experience recorded in chapter 20? It is difficult for us to believe and comprehend that Abraham would manifest such weakness. Genesis chapter 20 records two main things: a hidden weakness and a shameful intercession. In Abraham, this man of God, a weakness was hidden in his depths. In chapter 18, he had a glorious intercession; in chapter 20, we see his shameful intercession.
I. Journeying Toward the South
Let us first look at Abraham’s hidden weakness (Gen. 20:1-16). Verse 1 tells us: “Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev…” Abraham journeying toward the south means that he left the standing of fellowship by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. He should have stayed in Hebron, for there he had intimate fellowship with God. Nothing is better than this. Not long after he had intimate fellowship with God, he left Hebron and journeyed toward the south. In chapter 17:21 and 18:14, God spoke to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac, and then in chapter 21, Isaac was born; the interval between this was not more than a year. Why, within that one year, did Abraham suddenly leave Hebron and journey toward the south? In figure, the south signifies ease. The north signifies hardship. The south is warm and the north is cold, but God dwells in the north (Psa. 48:2; 75:6-7; Ezek. 1:4). In the north there is hardship, but there is God’s presence; in the south there is ease, but there is no presence of God. In Genesis chapter 20 we do not see any hint that God commanded Abraham to journey toward the south. In this move, Abraham acted on his own.
Abraham might have wanted some change, wanted to take a vacation. Although you enjoy the church life in Anaheim, one day you may feel the need for a change, wanting to go south to Mexico City for a trip. The church life is wonderful, and we all enjoy it very much. But some may get a little bored and want to take a trip to Las Vegas. If you went to Las Vegas and met someone there who asked what you were doing at home, you would find it difficult to give him an honest answer. Abraham was dishonest in such a situation twice (cf. Gen. 12:9-12). In chapter 20 Abraham journeyed south because there was a famine in that land. That famine gave him an excuse to go down to Egypt, but in this chapter, Abraham had no excuse. He and his wife may have felt bored and wanted to take a vacation. If they had stayed by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, Abraham would not have needed to lie. He lied because he stood on the wrong ground. By this, we see that a proper standing is quite important.