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.
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