Genesis 20:1-18 God uses imperfect but humble people to do His perfect work
Genesis 20:1-18
From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Background
Yet another drought has Abraham seeking refuge beyond the boundaries of Canaan into Egypt, Gerar (southern eastern border of Canaan). Abraham is again passing his wife off as his sister so soon after his monumental intercession for the doomed city of Sodom. This time in Gerar, Abraham finds himself fearing for his life despite being years older and wiser. God’s timely intervention keeps Abraham from doing damage not only to himself but to an innocent nation. Despite Abraham’s dreadful mistake, God considers him as prophet and father of the nations as his humility outweighs his imperfection. Today’s devotion teaches us God’s desire to work with imperfect but humble people to do His perfect work.
Observation
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Abimelech, the king of Gerar attempts to take Sarah into his harem. However, God’s timely intervention by way of a plague prevents Abimelech from touching her. Coming to Abimelech in a dream, God issues a warning of impending destruction on his family and kingdom should he disobey. God’s censure rest on the fact that Sarah is Abraham’s wife. The plague is a divine measure that prevents him from having intercourse with Sarah thereby bringing destruction upon himself.
Abimelech does not deny his actions but asserts that he is misled and acts in complete ignorance. God recognises Abimelech’s integrity of heart but insists on the immediate return of Sarah, failing which his kingdom will be completely destroyed. In the same breath, God openly acknowledges Abraham as His prophet so much so that even Abimelech’s wellbeing and his family’s are subject to him: for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. God’s zealous protection of Abraham and the severe treatment of Abimelech speaks of a special place that Abraham holds in God’s heart.
So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid.
Abimelech’s response to the divine warning early in the morning sends terror through the courts as he recounts the dream to his officials (the men were very much afraid). Turning to Abraham, he insists on a full explanation for his actions that almost cause him the kingdom: What have you done to us? … that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? What did I do to deserve such mistreatment (how have I sinned against you?) Abimelech gives the impression that he cares about righteousness and justice. Abraham appears sheepish at best, admitting to his own ignorance and self-righteousness: I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place. Abraham’s folly stands in stark contrast with Abimelech, the just and God-fearing king who is deeply concerned with morality. Abraham’s cowardice and recklessness has again put his wife and an innocent nation in danger. Abraham stands condemned in misreading Abimelech’s character. In the broader scheme of things, he stands guilty that in spite of the divine blessing that have accompanied him since Genesis 12, he fails to trust God. It is mind boggling that being on intimate terms with God does not alter his approach and mindset in this matter. Abraham’s explanation, regrettably exposes his lack of faith and character befitting a prophet.
Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him.
Despite Abraham’s unrighteousness, Abimelech acts graciously and magnanimously. In order to ward off possible attacks against Sarah accusing her of attempting to enter the harem, a generous gift of servants, life stock, and a thousand pieces of silver is offered to Abraham as a sign of Sarah’s innocence. This effectively vindicates her of all accusations pertaining to this failed marriage proposal: It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated. Abimelech’s offer of land in addition to the gifts attests to the superior stature of Abraham in spite of his follies. When it comes for Abraham to pray for Abimelech and his family, the effective restoration of the royal household attests to Abraham’s true calling as prophet to the nations.
Truth
God uses imperfect but humble people to do His perfect work.
It is hard to reconcile Abraham’s attitude with the character and stature that should accompany the role of prophet and father of the nations. Abraham’s dreadful mistake is by average standards dismal. Obviously, God’s way of assessing Abraham is unique: society judges by looking to existing qualities and capabilities, God looks to one’s potential for greater things. When God evaluates a person, He asks the question, “Is this man capable of being broken down further so that he may rise to greater heights?” In God’s scheme of things, humility is the consideration, not existing spirituality or ability. God finds in Abraham a humility that allows deep sanctification towards the perfection that is required for his calling. And for that reason, God dispenses with all other weaknesses that Abraham may have.
When questioned by Abimelech, Abraham does not seek to justify his wrongdoing but verbalises his mistake in misreading the situation, “I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.” That reveals Abraham as who he really is: an assuming person who is ready to detach himself at the slightest danger. Nevertheless, in allowing Abimelech the last word, and coming off as a more righteous person than he is attests to Abraham’s humility. Abraham could have played hardball to spare this humiliation knowing full well which side God is standing on. The incident in Gerar no doubt reveals Abraham’s ugliness, but importantly, it shows Abraham’s capacity for repentance: just the kind of person that God is looking for.
Many people plateau in their growth because they cannot accept the fact that they are not good enough. They attribute their lack of success to circumstances, insisting that people have failed them, and even God takes part of the blame. But they will never admit to their own lack of humility and teachability.
Having said, most can bear with some minor alterations to their attitudes and skill sets, but they cannot accept fundamental reconstructions to their core belief systems and personhood. Yet some are reluctant to hold themselves accountable to others citing people’s inability to understand their uniqueness and calling. The apostle Peter speaks to younger people concerning the importance of accountability to elders and pastors,
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:5-6.
God has ordained elders and pastors for the purpose of guiding the young so that they may be exalted. Unless people are willing to recognise their lack and allow themselves to be taught, their time for exaltation may be remote.
Blessings, revelations and intimacy with God do not automatically lead to sanctification.
Abraham’s dreadful mistake repeats itself despite years of blessings, abundance of revelations and intimacy with God. It only goes to show that the usual signs of spirituality do not necessarily lead to sanctification. Sanctification requires targeted efforts in recognising the root of fleshly behaviour and repentance towards godliness. In the case of Abraham, what happened in Egypt is left in Egypt and never brought to mind. Besides, he seems to have been rewarded handsomely by his folly. Because Abraham does not deal with his weakness in an intentional and targeted manner, he is bound to repeat it again, this time in Gerar.
A believer’s life must be open to the scrutiny and feedback of others. It is on these feedbacks that our weaknesses can be captured and dealt with effectively. Therefore, one will do well to spend more time listening to the feedbacks of others and to the promptings of the Spirit than to be self-absorbed in one’s fantasy of himself.
Application
Do you despise some people whom you think are unworthy of a superior role? Although not all promotions are righteous, but some imperfect people could very well be used by God because of their humility. Therefore, if you humble yourself before God and man, and in being true to your weaknesses, your time may well come.
Seek out your elders and disciple maker in an effort to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Hold yourself accountable to them. Seek their assistance in helping you grow out of your deficiencies.
Dear Lord, I desire to see myself as who I really am. Speak directly into my spirit and through the words of my elders and mentors. Create within me a heart that is pure and humble. Use me to do your works and to fulfil my calling. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.