FRIDAY, June 26, 2009                                                       READ: Genesis 20: 1 - 18                                                                                                        

FATHER ABRAHAM FAILED TO ACT IN INTEGRITY

MEMORIZE: ‘Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.’         Genesis 20:2

The first time that Abram left the land of Promise and went down to Egypt (cf. Genesis 12: 10 – 26), he did so because there was asevere famine in the land. Now, here in our text, Genesis 20: 1 – 18, we see how he left Mamre and went down to Gerar, which was Philistine territory, approximately ten miles south of Gaza. We are not told why he went down, but he went down to the border of Canaan and Egypt. Abraham knew that he was heading into troublesome territory. The LORD had spoken to Him about the fulfillment of His promise which was to take place. Within a year, Sarah was going to deliver the promised son. How long after the LORD spoke to him in Mamre would he have journeyed into Gerar? Proverbs 20: 7, tells us that “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him” (cf. Genesis 26:1 – 11). Abraham had been declared righteous when he believed in God (cf. Genesis 15: 6). Being righteous is not the same as being perfect or sinless. What happens when the righteous does not act in his integrity?

Abimelech, the king of Gerar saw Sarah, Abraham’s wife and wanted to know who she was, and I imagine, her relationship to Abraham. Righteous Abraham had an opportunity to step forward and speak according to his integrity, but he did not (cf. 12: 17-20). A lot of believers in the LORD, Jesus Christ, really do not see any problem with lying to get out of a jam. Think of how we back away from bearing witness for Jesus Christ in everyday situations. In v. 2, we see that, as a result of Abraham’s lack of truthfulness, Abimelech, the king “… sent and took Sarah.” Are you able to see the devil at work, seeking to frustrate God’s plan? God’s plan was for Sarah to bear the son of Promise. Satan wanted to defile her so badly. In v. 3, we read “But God ….” God acted to protect His own glory. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and told him the truth. We see in vv. 4, 5, how Abimelech indicated to God that he did what he did “in the integrity of my heart and in innocence of my hands ….” In vv. 6, 7, we see how God testified to Abimelech of His mercy, and instructed him to give Sarah back to her husband. In vv. 8 - 10, Abimelech confronted Abraham about his lack of courage and his deceit (cf. Matthew 5: 16). He asked Abraham “What did you have in mind, that you have done this thing?” Here in vv. 11 – 13, we see how Abraham confessed to what he had done (cf. 1 John 1: 7 – 9). In vv. 14 – 16, we see how Abimelech rebuked Abraham and Sarah for their deceit in having claimed to be mere brother and sister, when they were actually husband and wife. He paid up the dowry to Abraham as Sarah’s brother. Many of us today live lives of deceit and lies. In vv. 17, 18, we are told that Abraham prayed to God on behalf of Abimelech and his wife and household. God heard Abraham’s prayer and healed Abimelech’s household. God opened the wombs which He had closed. Confession of sin and fervent praying which needed to be done to effect the healing which is needed was done (cf. James 5: 16). Remember, now, Sarah was still not able to conceive and bear a child. She needed help as well.

There are things which have been done contrary to the will of God. Every now and then the LORD has given reminders to us and we have ignored those prods. God wants to heal and bless. Fathers, we have to be willing to own up to our lack of integrity. Mothers have to be willing to admit, that, like Sarah, they have been living in ways which have facilitated wrong. Many mothers have been doing wrongs which have been “swept under the rug,” or even under the floor board. We can continue to leave things where we hid them, or, we can do what God is telling us to do – admit them to Him and, at least, stop the wrong behavior. How shall we then live? What shall we do with what the LORD is mercifully and graciously saying to us (cf. Jeremiah 33: 3; John 8: 31, 32)?

PRAY:LORD, God Almighty, I am grateful to You for speaking to me. I want to live with integrity today and every day, from this point forward. I want to trust You to help me to deal with the past. Please help me in Jesus’ strong name. Amen!