Genesis 20 - Why is God blessing Abraham, here?

[IrishCannon]

So Abraham is afraid of being killed, so he says, to Sarah, instead of being my wife, you're going to play the part of my sister.

He's cowardly.

Pharaoh suffers the consequences of adultery even though it is unknown to him.

Abraham seems to suffer nothing, being blessed in the process.

Can someone explain this please?

 

[np307]

1) The absence of punishment isn't quite the same as being blessed. It is obviously preferable to being punished though.

2) Abraham is rebuked by God and Pharoah for what happened, which is a form of punishment.

3) God has already promised to bless Abraham unconditionally, first in chapter 12, then reconfirmed in chapters 15 and 17.

4) Abraham passes on this pattern of deception to Isaac and ultimately to Jacob as well, which is also a form of punishment.

5) Ultimately God is just in showing mercy at His own Will.

 

[np307]

I meant Abimelech above, not Pharoah.