with Elder Elico Manenji
1️⃣Genesis 20:1-7: Abraham lives in Gerar, Abimelech took Sarah for wife, God rebukes him in a dream.
Abraham and Sarah made a covenant which was a temptation to them as long as they wandered and travelled amongst the Gentiles, to lie about their relationship.
Though Sarah was a half sister to him, yet she was married to her half brother making her his wife.
Though Sarah was now eighty-nine years of age yet she appeared a mere youth in looks as she had no children, she was remarkable for her beauty and renewed health and vigor.
God appeared to Abimelech in a dream rebuking him not to touch Sarah Abraham's wife.
God communicates even with Gentiles through their conscience to exercise what is right and wrong, even now the knowledge of the true God had not yet disappeared from the Gentile world, who were under the Noachic covenant and descendants of Noah through his sons.
Abraham was God's prophet, God’s spokesman who utters with authority certain things of God.
Being God's spokesperson implies/ implied two things:
I. The things of God are known only to the prophet and so must be communicated by him and through the prophet.
II. The prophet must be enabled of God to announce in correct terms the things made known to him, any new truth God raises to them were/ are passed to them as to qualify for that rank.
God said to Moses, "And you shall speak to him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do." (Exodus 4:15)
Key Text: "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
No one is ever safe from the invasion of temptations once yielded to, however the infirmities of believers appeal to the Divine compassion. With Abraham, God was much more concerned to maintain the promises made to him which he received by faith.
The Apostle Paul says, "For what said the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3)
2️⃣Genesis 20:8-13: Abimelech warns his servants concerning Abraham who defends his lie._
The sin of Abimelech was lust and adding wife to wife. He admired a stranger than any other women from amongst his people.
The sins of kings and rulers often prove the plagues of their kingdoms or nations, so kings and rulers should therefore for their people's sake dread and fear sin.
Abimelech charged Abraham with doing that which was not justifiable in disowning his own marriage.
He spoke to Abraham justly and yet tenderly as he does not call him a liar and cheat but tells him he had done deeds that ought not to be done or condoned.
Key Text: "The transgression of the wicked said within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes"(Psalm 36:1).
God is to be acknowledged in all our earthly wanderings. Those that travel abroad, and other places and converse much with strangers as they have need of the wisdom of God.
The wiseman says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)
3️⃣Genesis 20:14-18: Abimelech restores Sarah with gifts and Abraham prays for the healing of Abimelech's household.
The restoration of Sarah was with great honour, pampered with much gifts. Abimelech gave Abraham his royal licence to dwell where he pleased in his country, courting his stay, he gave him his royal gifts of sheep and oxen and a thousand pieces of silver.
Sin is a costly event and the law of restitution should be applied when restoring that which one had taken against the other.
Zaccheous said, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." (Luke 19:8)
In turn, Abraham.prayed for Abimelech and his servants to be restored.
As God had entered into a covenant with Abraha, God set His visible marks of approval upon His own appointed means of blessings to Abimelech through him.
Abraham became the human channel of both physical and spiritual blessings as he taught Abimelech the way of righteousness and true blessedness.
Key Text: "The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22)
Leaders and people should ever seek for prayers of good men of God which may be kindness to them which they ought to value and appreciate as God's direct blessings upon them and their nations. Moses prayed for Mirriam saying, " Heal her now, O God, I beseech you"(Numbers 12:13).
Appeal
It should be in our wisdom to get and keep an interest with those that have an interest in heaven and to make those our friends who are the friends of God. Never allow sin to reign in your mortal body.
The patriarch Job says, "I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think on a maid?"(Job 31:1). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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