“Then Abimelech
brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham,
and he returned Sarah his wife to him.” (Genesis 20:14, NIV)
This deceitfulness of Abraham was not sudden failure or unexpected
trap. According to verse 13, this guise
was a plan that Abraham and Sarah determined to do even before they left their
home of origin. There is not even a hint
that Abraham thought he did anything wrong (from Genesis 12). This was their survival plan. But again, God
interferes to preserve His plans and purposes.
There seems to be something that is often true to me. The integrity of
the unsaved can at times exceed the morality of a believer, especially when they
are not walking in that belief. God’s
Word is making a sharp contrast here. Abraham is the friend of God, the Father
of the faithful, yet Abimelech is acting as the ‘righteous one’. “The king’s actions are a very public affirmation that he has not acted
inappropriately toward Sarah, and thus he is not the father of any children she
may have.”[1] This has huge consequences, if not,
true on the story of redemption.
“Then Abraham
prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his female slaves so they
could have children again, for the Lord
had kept all the women in Abimelech’s household from conceiving because of
Abraham’s wife Sarah.” (Genesis 20:17–18, NIV)
Now we see into another aspect of pressure that God had applied to this
nation. But in spite of that, God allows
Abraham to pray for them, for their healing and that he might be a blessing to
them. “Abimelech’s large gift of a thousand pieces of
silver (no coins existed at this time, so pieces is not accurate, everything
was weighed) was proof of his high esteem for Abraham and Sarah and would serve
to stop any scoffing on the part of her household.”[2] (“To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a
thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all
who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”” (Genesis 20:16, NIV)).
“This is the first use
of the word “prophet” in the O.T.”.[3]
“The ordinary Hebrew word for prophet is nâbi, derived from a verb
signifying “to bubble forth” like a fountain; hence the word means one who announces or pours forth the declarations of God. The English word comes from
the Greek prophetes (προφητης), which signifies in classical Greek one who speaks for another, specially one who speaks for a god, and so
interprets his will to man; hence its essential meaning is “an interpreter.”[4]
In spite of Abraham’s fear and failure, Abimelech still viewed Abraham
as a prophet of God – one who represents or speaks for God.
Father what grace is extended to Abraham that
retains his honor and dignity in the face of such a precarious testimony. I am
warned in my heart, Lord, that this is no excuse for sin or failure to trust
You. But what matchless grace! I think of the Shepherd’s Song that reminds me
that “grace and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” Lord how I need that. You know my heart – a heart that is proud, a
heart that manufactures idols – and yet You grant my life dignity and purpose
in the Gospel. May the perfection of Christ be seen in my life today?
[1]
Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study
Bible (85). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E.
Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (57). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[3] Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A.
Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K.
Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ge 20:7). Nashville: Thomas
Nelson.
[4]
Smith, W. (1986). Smith's Bible
Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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