Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." Psalm 33:8
Text: Genesis 20:1-18
A SLEEPLESS NIGHT
Abimelech probably did not have much sleep that night. The words of God were too awesome to lay aside easily.
- The danger of sinning against God.
- The penalty of death.
- Abraham – a prophet of God.
- God speaking to him in a dream!
These thoughts must have weighed heavily on his heart. How could he lie down and sleep as he thought on these things?
ASSEMBLING HIS PEOPLE
As soon as the sun rose up, Abimelech called his people together and related to them the experience he had.
“So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants,
and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were
very much afraid.”GENESIS 20:8
How would Abimelech’s servants view what he shared with them? Would they have dismissed his fears as nothing more than a bad dream? The reaction of all his servants confirmed for him that his dream was indeed a special word of warning from God. He must obey what God had told him.
- He must release Sarah.
- He must plead with Abraham to pray on their behalf, as he was a prophet of God.
CONFRONTING ABRAHAM
Abimelech may have trembled in fear before God, but he was certainly not afraid of Abraham. He confronted him in no uncertain manner.
“And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him,
‘What have you done to us? How have I offended you,
that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?
You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done.’
Then Abimelech said to Abraham, ‘What did you have in view,
that you have done this thing?'”GENESIS 20:9-10
What powerful words of rebuke these were to blameworthy Abraham!