January 8, 2008

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        Genesis Chapter 20

 

A Picture of God’s Mercy and Grace

To receive the greatest possible blessing from this Bible study, please take a moment to read the passage.

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           Prayer:

            Heavenly Father, You have showed us that there is a time to give and a time to receive. Help me to be gracious in both areas. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

        Introduction:

 

A friend with food allergies struggled with the affects of consuming such foods every time we attended retreats and conferences. When I asked her why she never filled out the questions pertaining to food preferences included with most registrations, she replied, “I don’t want to be a bother.”

“But, you’re robbing the cook of his ministry,” I rebuked her. “The individuals who tend to our dietary needs at these events do so because the feel called to minister in that way the same as the lecturers, pastors, and musicians feel called to their areas of expertise. Is it right for you to refuse their ministry?”

            My friend repented and now has no problem accepting the special attention that she needs to maintain her health at such events.

 

           The Lesson:

            Although the Bible makes no comment on the subject, some scholars believe that Abimelech practiced pagan worship. Nowhere is it written that Abraham was the only God-fearing man on the face of the earth at that time. God didn’t chose Abraham because of Abraham’s greatness—The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of people (Deuteronomy 7:7). It pleased God to chose the poor and the weak to demonstrate His power and glory—But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are ; That no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

            God chose Abimelech to show His mercy and grace upon humanity whether Abimelech worshiped the Living God or many false gods. As they had done with Pharaoh (Genesis 12), Abraham and Sarah told Abimelech that Sarah was Abraham’s sister. The king of Gerar took Sarah intending to make her his wife. Before Abimelech had opportunity to touch her, God appeared to him in a dream and told him he was as good as dead for taking the wife of a prophet. Abimelech’s response infers his belief in God as Sovereign. He reminds the Lord that he took her in innocence and with integrity unaware of her true relationship with Abraham. (vs 2-5)

            God acknowledged Abimelech’s ignorance of the circumstances pertaining to Sarah—Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore, suffered I thee not to touch her (verse 6). Only by the grace of God was Abimelech and his nation saved from the Almighty God’s wrath, thus illustrating His love and concern for the king and his nation as well as for Abraham, Sarah, and the nation He was establishing through them.

            The command for Abimelech to return Sarah held a promise and a curse. The promise was life through Abraham’s prayers and the curse was death for Abimelech and all he possessed if he chose to disobey. This passage is another beautiful word picture of salvation through Jesus Christ.

            Believing God’s word, Abimelech chose to honor Abraham with sheep, oxen, male and female servants. He also gave Abraham 1000 pieces of silver as reassurance that Sarah had not been touched. God had not required this goodwill offering of Abimelech; but it served as a reminder of his integrity later when Abraham and the king crossed paths a Beer-sheba (chapter 21:22-34).

            Chapter 12:17—And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife—shows that God chooses to deal with people differently and does not owe any of us an explanation of His reasons. He tells Moses—And he [God] said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy (Exodus 33:19).

            If this lesson baffles you, remember: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thought than your thoughts  (Isaiah 55:7-9).

            An again He reminds us: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him , and it shall be recompencesd unto hm again? For of him and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36).

           

        Conclusion and Challenge:

 

God tested Abimelech in the giving department and Abraham in the receiving. Abraham could have refused the gift and thereby thwarted God’s blessing on Abimelech.

Many of us have no trouble giving our time, our advice, and even our money to those in need. But when it comes to the receiving end, we struggle. While it is written, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35b), we need to exercise humility and guard against pride. Jesus taught us to give, but even our best is not good enough if given with a prideful spirit.

            Likewise in our moment of need, let us honor God by receiving help graciously and remember that He may be teaching someone else a lesson in giving. Unbeknown to us, we could be instrumental in a blessing for the giver.

            Giving and receiving are only the images we perceive as the tip of the iceberg. Only God knows the entirety of the deed accomplished according to His will.

 

 Start a Ministry

 

            Start a new ministry. Print some business cards with a picture of a penny and the slogan “In God We Trust.” Under the slogan write: But are we trusting the one true God? If you like, place my website on it or yours or your church’s site. Hand them out—with your tip a restaurants, to passers-by, to cashiers, put them in all your outgoing mail. Pray earnestly for our nation’s revival.

            If you don’t have a computer or time to make cards, but would like to invest in this ministry, write to me via e-mail and I’ll send you some-FREE.