Genesis
20:14 ¶ And Abimelech took sheep, and
oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and
restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And
Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I
have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a
covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she
was reproved. 17 So Abraham prayed unto
God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they
bare children. 18 For the LORD had fast
closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s
wife.
The
graciousness of a heathen king should cause many so-called Christian leaders
shame. He not only did what God told him to do, restoring Sarah, but he made
Abraham even wealthier than he was. Not only did he offer Abraham material
wealth but he gave him the right to live in his kingdom wherever he wished.
Abimelech
then scolds Sarah, calling Abraham her brother, as she and Abraham had
dissembled regarding. He has rewarded Abraham and tells Sarah, in so many
words, to stay faithful to Abraham, her husband, to not risk other men’s
intentions toward her. She is never to call Abraham her brother again. Both
have been reproved in this. Reproof, from which reprove comes, is correction.
See the synonyms to reproof in this verse and do a word search to see the phrases
and words it is linked with elsewhere to confirm.
2Timothy
3:16 All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Remember,
as you read Abraham’s journey, that the Bible is the story of God’s work in
reconciling man to Himself. Reproof is an essential part of that correction,
that instruction in righteousness, and fundamental to that doctrine.
It
is important to note here that Abraham prayed for Abimelech, whom he had
wronged. Prayers of supplication for others are important, as God reveals
throughout the Bible. Christians are commanded to pray for each other.
James
5:16 Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
We
are to pray for kings and all those in authority. As there were no Christian
kings when this was written we are called to pray for the heathen leaders, that
they come to Christ but for mercy and grace to be applied to them, as well.
1Timothy
2:1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of
all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for
all men; 2 For kings, and for all that
are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty. 3 For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
We
are to pray even for those who abuse us for our faith. Notice the context of
God’s perfection here.
Matthew
5:43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been
said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye
love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren
only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
God
honored Abraham’s prayer and healed Abimelech’s household.
No comments:
Post a Comment