blue

Did God tell Abraham to lie?


The Pearl of Great Price, one of the LDS Church's standard works, contains, among other writings, The Book of Abraham. The second chapter, verses 22-25, contains the following quote:

"And it came to pass when I was come near to enter into Egypt, the Lord said unto me: Behold, Sarai, thy wife, is a very fair woman to look upon; Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see her, they will say-She is his wife; and they will kill you, but they will save her alive; therefore see that ye do on this wise: Let her say unto the Egyptians, she is thy sister, and thy soul shall live. And it came to pass that I, Abraham, told Sarai, my wife, all that the Lord had said unto me-Therefore say unto them, 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."

The only reference this passage gives is Gen 12:9-20 and 20:12.

What does the Genesis account say?

Gen. 12:11-13 " And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai is wife, Behold now, I know that thou are 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 will with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. Abraham never mentioned to Sarai that it was the Lord who told him to tell Sarai to lie.

What did the Lord think about Abraham's actions?

Gen 12:17-20 "And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me: why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? So I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had."

We find in Genesis 26 that Isaac repeated this same error with his wife Rebekah and once again the LORD stepped in to keep Abimelech from committing sin with Rebekah (as He did with Pharaoh and Sarai).

Is it possible for the LORD to tell someone to lie?

James 1:13 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man."

Further evidence that God cannot lie

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie;…"

1 Samuel 15:29 "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent (change his mind): for he is not a man, that he should repent (change his mind)."

Hebrews 6:18 "That by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, …"

Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie …"

What does LDS writings say? Can God tell someone to lie?

Ether 3:12 "And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou are a God of truth, and canst not lie."

Enos 1:6 "And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie;…"

D&C 62:6 "…I, the Lord, promise the faithful and cannot lie."

Who then told Abraham to tell Sarai to lie?

In order for a person to lie, there first comes a temptation. James 1:13 says the temptation cannot come from God as He "tempteth no man." Who then tempted Abraham into this action? Who is the father of lies?

Bible

John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, an 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." Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 2:18 "And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies …."

Pearl of Great Price

Moses 4:4 "And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men …"

What does this mean about the Pearl of Great Price?

It means that the Pearl of Great Price contradicts the Book of Mormon.

It means that the Pearl of Great Price contradicts the Doctrine and Covenants.

It means that the Pearl of Great Price contradicts itself.

It means that the Pearl of Great Price contradicts the Bible.

It means that the Pearl of Great Price cannot be inspired by God.



Bible Study

Home