Daily Devotions
Genesis
"The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned." Psalm 34:22
Text: Genesis 20:1-18
THE LARGESSE OF ABIMELECH
What a lesson Abimelech taught Abraham that day! He had heard God’s voice but once, and he acted upon that word given to him. Indeed, he went further than what God had demanded of him. He was instructed to return Sarah’s back to Abraham. He did much more than that. With great largesse, he gave Abraham significant gifts!
“Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants,
and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
And Abimelech said, ‘See, my land is before you; dwell where
it pleases you.’ Then to Sarah he said, ‘Behold I have given
your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates
you before all who are with you and before everybody.’
Thus she was rebuked.”GENESIS 20:14-16
What humbling lessons Abraham was learning from Abimelech! At least three significant lessons must be learned!
1. Vindication Gifts to Abraham
What was the significance of the gifts presented to Abraham? Let us ponder the following thoughts :-
a) Admission of wrong-doing
The presentation of gifts was meant to express sorrow for having taken Sarah from Abraham.
b) Making Right
The gifts were also meant as a gesture of peace between Abimelech and Abraham. No hard feelings on either side. Apart from the trauma of being abducted, no harm or indignity came to Sarah.
2. A Rebuke to Sarah (and to Abraham as well)
Abimelech’s words to Sarah were cutting. He spoke to her using a word she herself had employed to describe her relationship with Abraham. That word was “brother”.
3. Invitation to dwell in the land of Gerar
To top it all, Abimelech invited Abraham and Sarah to dwell anywhere they chose in his land. These steps he took displayed his largesse as a good ruler.
A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT
Abraham was still learning deep lessons about faith and life itself. Though some lessons were painful, nevertheless they had to be learned well. How human Abraham was! How wonderful God was to him! May knowledge and faith deepen…always!